Association and liquid structure of pyridine-acetic acid mixtures determined from neutron scattering using a ‘free proton’ EPSR simulation model

Hydrogen-bonded molecular acetic acid chains are observed in acid–base mixtures from small angle neutron diffraction.</p

Rapid hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters by zirconium(IV) complexes in neutral solution

Three zirconium(IV) complexes (1-3) with mono- and dinucleating tripodal ligands are reported that promote the hydrolysis of the phosphate monoesters p-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) and phenyl phosphate (PP) in neutral solution. At pH 7 up to 10(4)- and 10(6)-fold rate accelerations of the hydrolysis of NPP and PP are observed. A detailed kinetic study has been carried out for NPP. The complexes show Michaelis-Menten behavior, k(cat) and 1/K-m values at pH 7.0, 25 degrees C are 2.7 x 10(-5) s(-1) and 806 M-1 (1), 1.1 x 10(-4) s(-1) and 556 M-1 (2) and 1.1 x 10(-4) s(-1) and 565 M-1 (3). Entropies of activation of -92.0 J K-1 mol(-1) (1), -75.6 J K-1 mol(-1) (2) and -98.6 J K-1 mol(-1) (3) are consistent with an associative mechanism

Analysing the Cost of Lightweight SPI Assessments

In this paper we describe the implementation of an assessment method that was developed to assess software processes within small to medium-sized Irish software organisations that have little or no experience of software process improvement (SPI) programmes. We discuss the actual overheads associated with performing software process assessments based upon our experiences of performing assessments in three small to medium sized (SMEs) software development companies

Lightweight SPI Assessments: What is the real Cost?

In this paper we describe the implementation of an assessment method that was developed to assess software processes within small to medium-sized Irish software organisations that have little or no experience of software process improvement (SPI) programmes. We discuss the actual overheads associated with performing software process assessments based upon our experiences of performing assessments in three small to medium sized (SMEs) software development companies

Developing a configuration management model for the medical device industry

Software is becoming an increasingly important aspect of medical devices and medical device regulation. Software enables highly complex systems to be built. However, complexity is the enemy of safety, therefore strict adherence to well documented processes is important within the domain of medical device software. Medical devices can only be marketed if compliance and approval from the appropriate regulatory bodies of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is achieved. This paper outlines the development of a Configuration Management Capability Model (CMCM). The CMCM is a Software Process Improvement (SPI) model specifically dedicated to Configuration Management (CM) for the medical device industry. This paper details how medical device regulations may be satisfied by adopting relevant practices from the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) CM process area. It also investigates how the CMMI® CM process area may be extended with additional practices that are outside the remit of the CMMI®, but are required in order to satisfy Medical Device Regulatory (MDR) guidelines

Experimenting with agile – first things first

Faced with challenges in relation to interpretation of requirements, issues with build and deployment and excessive integration defects, this paper examines how a software team propose using a novel combination of Covey’s ‘First Things First’ principle and Cockburn’s Methodology Shaping, as a potential solution to examine their current process and define a new set of working conventions which will address these issues