Code Quality Evaluation Methodology Using The ISO/IEC 9126 Standard

This work proposes a methodology for source code quality and static behaviour evaluation of a software system, based on the standard ISO/IEC-9126. It uses elements automatically derived from source code enhanced with expert knowledge in the form of quality characteristic rankings, allowing software engineers to assign weights to source code attributes. It is flexible in terms of the set of metrics and source code attributes employed, even in terms of the ISO/IEC-9126 characteristics to be assessed. We applied the methodology to two case studies, involving five open source and one proprietary system. Results demonstrated that the methodology can capture software quality trends and express expert perceptions concerning system quality in a quantitative and systematic manner.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

The evolution of labour law in the new member states of the European Union : 1995-2005 - country studies on Cyprus and Malta

This Report traces the development of Labour Law and the implications for Industrial Relations, as well as social and employment policy more generally, in the two small Mediterranean countries of Cyprus and Malta during the period 1995–2005. This period was particularly important for the two countries as it coincided with their efforts for accession to the European Union (EU) and the process of harmonisation with the Acquis Communautaire. Since their independence in 1960 and 1964 respectively for Cyprus and Malta, successive Governments in each country – working with the social partners – had sought to steer a policy of social cohesion to underpin their development efforts. Whilst these strategies were successful in fostering a long period of economic growth and peaceful labour relations, a major outcome was the existence of relatively inflexible labour markets. Liberalisation and globalisation of international markets, coupled with the pressure exerted by the accession process, which required the implementation of the Acquis Communautaire necessitated a series of changes with far reaching implications in social and economic affairs. Naturally the framework of Labour Law – and labour practices thereof – came under increasing pressure to adapt and reform. The Executive Summary describes the main aims and objectives of the Report on the evolution of Labour Law in Cyprus and Malta in the period 1995-2005, and provides an outline of the component chapters. Specifically the Report is divided into three chapters. The first and second chapters consist of the individual Reports on Cyprus and Malta respectively. These constitute the main body of the Report and investigate the evolution of Labour Law in the two countries separately and the implications for Industrial Relations, employment and social policy. The third chapter provides a concluding overview of the two countries’ experiences and an evaluation of the state of implementation of the Acquis Communautaire in the fields examined.peer-reviewe

Synthesis of 2D Germanane (GeH):a New, Fast, and Facile Approach

Germanane (GeH), a germanium analogue of graphane, has recently attracted considerable interest because its remarkable combination of properties makes it an extremely suitable candidate to be used as 2D material for field effect devices, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis. Up to now, the synthesis of GeH has been conducted by substituting Ca by H in a beta-CaGe2 layered Zintl phase through topochemical deintercalation in aqueous HCl. This reaction is generally slow and takes place over 6 to 14 days. The new and facile protocol presented here allows to synthesize GeH at room temperature in a significantly shorter time (a few minutes), which renders this method highly attractive for technological applications. The GeH produced with this method is highly pure and has a band gap (E-g) close to 1.4 eV, a lower value than that reported for germanane synthesized using HCl, which is promising for incorporation of GeH in solar cells

Invasive lionfish in the Mediterranean: Low public awareness yet high stakeholder concerns

A lionfish invasion in the Western Atlantic has been one of the most ecologically harmful fish invasions to date. Experience there has shown that its management is most effective when the public and stakeholders are involved. The lionfish (Pterois miles) has recently invaded the Mediterranean, spreading at an alarming rate. To understand lionfish knowledge and perceptions, questionnaire surveys were conducted with a representative cross section of the adult general public (via telephone) and stakeholders (via organised meetings) in Cyprus. Results from 300 public surveys revealed limited awareness about the lionfish but strong support for its local management. Men and older respondents showed stronger support compared to women and younger respondents, respectively. Results from 108 stakeholder revealed high level of awareness and almost unanimous support for management measures. The majority had not experienced any effects from the recent lionfish invasion, but some reported negative impacts such as limited access to dive sites, ecosystem damage and fishing gear destruction. Few stakeholders perceived benefits of this invasive species, e.g. to dive tourism or as a food source. Almost all stakeholders expressed a willingness to get involved in lionfish management, but only around half would consider personal consumption, or sports incentives as good incentives for their participation. Encouragement from scientists through coordination , training and support was suggested as an essential part of effective management strategy. The results of this study can inform an efficient adaptive management process across the Mediterranean region and assist future engagement of citizen scientists in lionfish control and mitigation

The greek engineers: institutions and ideas: 1900-1940

The dissertation is on the education and the profession of the Greek engineers, in regardto the Inter War ideologies about technology and society. In this context I inquired theformation of "Polytechnio" (National Technical University of Athens) as the sovereigninstitution of technical education of the country, the formation of the faculty, the socialprofile of the students and the educational projects. In the same framework I focused onthe formation of the Technical Chamber of Greece, the official professionalorganization of the Greek engineers, their relationship with the state administrativeauthorities, their role to the public or private constructions and commerce, theirinvolvement in the Greek industrial development and their social identity. In regard tothese I also presented the circumstances of intellectual appropriation of moderntechnology and its ideological expressions voiced by the Greek engineers. Morespecifically I have focused on: the modernization spirit, the corporatist inclinations, thevarious options of the ideology of technocracy, the oscillations between the hegemonyof traditional culture and the challenges of modern civilization, the dilemmas betweenparliamentary system and dictatorship, between capitalism and socialism and therelevant models of the economical development and the industrialization of thecountry.Παράκληση,Αντικείμενο της διατριβής αποτελεί η εξέταση των θεσμών που οδήγησαν στη διαμόρφωσητων σπουδών και του επαγγέλματος των Ελλήνων μηχανικών, καθώς και των σχετικών ιδεώνοι οποίες αποτέλεσαν το διακριτό στίγμα της παρέμβασης τους στα δημόσια πράγματα. Ηέρευνα σχετικά με το θέμα κάλυψε τον ύστερο 19° αιώνα και το πρώτο μισό του 20ου.Το εγχείρημα από ερευνητική άποψη στηρίχτηκε στη μελέτη και την αξιοποίηση των υλικώντου Ιστορικού Αρχείου του ΕΜΠ, τα έγγραφα και τα πρακτικά των συλλογικών οργάνων τουιδρύματος που καλύπτουν χρονικά την περίοδο από το 1837 έως το 1950, το Αρχείο -Μητρώο του TEE, το Αρχείο του Ν. Κιτσίκη στο παράρτημα του Τ.Ε.Ε. του Ηρακλείου, τοσώμα των τεχνικών περιοδικών, Μηχανική Εταθεώρησις, Αρχιμήδης, ΕΡΓΑ, Τεχνικά Χρονικά,και τη σχετική δευτερογενή βιβλιογραφία της εποχής. Αυτό το εμπειρικό υλικό αξιοποιήθηκεστα πλαίσια σύγχρονων προσεγγίσεων της διεθνούς και της ελληνικής βιβλιογραφίας.Βασικά σημεία της αφήγησης υπήρξαν: οι όροι διαμόρφωσης των σπουδών και τουεπαγγέλματος διεθνώς, το Πολυτεχνείο, το Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο, οι συνθήκες πρόσληψηςκαι ιδιοποίησης της ιδέας των «τεχνικών» και «των εφαρμοσμένων επιστημών» στηνΕλλάδα, τα πεδία εκτύλιξης της επαγγελματικής δράσης, η κοινωνική σύνθεση τουεπαγγελματικού σώματος, τα χαράκτηριστικά της επαγγελματικής ταυτότητας, επίσης ταιδεολογικά πλαίσια μέσα στα οποία διαμορφώθηκε και διατυπώθηκε στη μακρά διάρκεια τοιδεώδες της τεχνολογικής προόδου, ως συγκροτητική ιδεολογική αρχή της κοινωνικήςπαρουσίας των Ελλήνων μηχανικών.Παράκληση

The National Identity of Inter‐war Greek Engineers: Elitism, Rationalization, Technocracy, and Reactionary Modernism

International audienceThis article deals with the national identity of Greek engineers in the inter‐war era. It attempts to highlight both the 'objective' dimensions (demography, education, sectors of activity, organization of profession) and the corresponding 'subjective' components of this identity. The paper shows that inter‐war Greek engineers were a socio‐professional group with strong elitist characteristics that claimed a leading social role in the country's modernization and westernization race. This was expressed in a variety of ideological schemes, from the rationalization ideal to technocracy and, ultimately, to a Greek version of reactionary modernism

Re-Emergence of Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Greek Island of Crete

International audienceLeishmaniases are vector-borne diseases transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. Three species of Leishmania are found in the Mediterranean basin: Leishmania infantum, the most common species responsible for both visceral (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL); Leishmania major, found in North Africa and Middle East causing CL; Leishmania tropica with a limited presence in Europe, causing CL. During the last 25 years, Crete has become an endemic zone for L. infantum with a high number of infected dogs and an increasing number of human cases every year; in the last 4 years, the incidence has reached an average of seven VL patients per year in a population of 600,000. At the same time, CL has re-emerged in Crete due to L. tropica, with an average of three CL cases per year in the last 4 years. Isolates were typed as L. infantum MON-1 and MON-98 and L. tropica MON-300, a zymodeme not reported before. Both VL and CL have spread to the whole of the island during the last 25 years, primarily in semi-urban and urban areas with altitudes of 0-50 m. The prevailing Phlebotomus species were Phlebotomus neglectus (proven vector of L. infantum) and Phlebotomus similis (suspected vector of L. tropica)