Integrating automated structured analysis and design with Ada programming support environments

Ada Programming Support Environments (APSE) include many powerful tools that address the implementation of Ada code. These tools do not address the entire software development process. Structured analysis is a methodology that addresses the creation of complete and accurate system specifications. Structured design takes a specification and derives a plan to decompose the system subcomponents, and provides heuristics to optimize the software design to minimize errors and maintenance. It can also produce the creation of useable modules. Studies have shown that most software errors result from poor system specifications, and that these errors also become more expensive to fix as the development process continues. Structured analysis and design help to uncover error in the early stages of development. The APSE tools help to insure that the code produced is correct, and aid in finding obscure coding errors. However, they do not have the capability to detect errors in specifications or to detect poor designs. An automated system for structured analysis and design TEAMWORK, which can be integrated with an APSE to support software systems development from specification through implementation is described. These tools completement each other to help developers improve quality and productivity, as well as to reduce development and maintenance costs. Complete system documentation and reusable code also resultss from the use of these tools. Integrating an APSE with automated tools for structured analysis and design provide capabilities and advantages beyond those realized with any of these systems used by themselves

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Dynamic Aerosol In-Situ Imager (DAISI)

Transverse confocal imaging with pulsed laser illumination enables real-time parameter chanclerization of individual aerosol particles Independent values for size, dynamics, and cross-section enable enhanced PM speciation

Hearing Voices: User Involvement in Public Services

Modern public services demand greater awareness of who they are trying to serve. Managing relationships in the service of the public therefore requires the ability to ‘tune in’ to who public service users are, and what they are trying to say. This article examines the nature of the relationships between service users and providers through various mechanisms of voice. It suggests that if the user voice is to be recognised and acknowledged, a range of channels should be provided that cater for the values, norms and attitudes of a differentiated user constituency. Beyond this, however, it suggests that the simple provision of a range of channels is insufficient. Resistance to hearing the user voice through one or other of these channels can result in counterproductive ‘culture clashes’ and/or withdrawal. The article argues that this should be avoided through a combination of appropriate institutional design and the commitment of institutional effort to ensure that service cultures fit better with users’ expectations

Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Southern Bean Mosaic Virus (Cowpea Strain): in Search of a Viral Protease

The second and largest open reading frame within the southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) genome encodes a 105 kDa polyprotein. Following translation, the polyprotein is cleaved to liberate various proteins necessary for SBMV replication. The elements within polyproteins of the picornavirus superfamily members have a conserved order: Vpg (viral protein, genome-linked)-protease-replicase. Amino acid sequence homologies indicate that the 105 kDa protein of SBMV contains a replicase very similar to those identified in polyproteins of the picorna-like viruses. The presence of a VPg covalently attached to the 5\u27 end of the SBMV genome further suggests that SBMV may be considered a member of the picornavirus superfamily-Serine 558 within the SBMV polyprotein has been proposed to be a catalytic residue of a serine protease. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to create a mutant with a glycine at this position, and coupled in vitro transcription/translation was used to prepare 3H labeled translation products. SDS-PAGE and fluorography were then used to assay for the presence or absence of polyprotein cleavage. Although site-directed mutagenesis was successful in creating the mutant, a possible deletion that complicated the interpretation of the results was identified