Architectural Layer Recovery for Software System Understanding and Evolution

This paper presents an approach to identify software layers for the understanding and evolution of software systems implemented with any object-oriented programming language. The approach first identifies relations between the classes of a software system and then uses a link analysis algorithm (i.e. the Kleinberg algorithm) to group them into layers. Additionally to assess the approach and the underlying techniques, the paper also presents a prototype of a supporting tool and the results from a case study

Range estimation in multicarrier systems in the presence of interference: Performance limits and optimal signal design

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Theoretical limits on time-of-arrival (equivalently, range) estimation are derived for multicarrier systems in the presence of interference. Specifically, closed-form expressions are obtained for Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) in various scenarios. In addition, based on CRB expressions, an optimal power allocation (or, spectrum shaping) strategy is proposed. This strategy considers the constraints not only from the sensed interference level but also from the regulatory emission mask. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the improvements achievable with the optimal power allocation scheme, and a maximum likelihood time-of-arrival estimation algorithm is studied to assess the effects of the proposed approach in practical estimators. © 2011 IEEE

Perceptions and preconceptions about chicken and pork meat: A qualitative exploratory study of Argentine consumers in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires

In the past, the Argentine livestock production system was based on the extensive breeding that used pastures. However, technological progress and the use of land for soybean production are leading to a strong intensification of beef production, with a negative impact on the environment. According to FAO data, Argentina has the third highest meat consumption in the world, half of which is beef. A change in diet is a long and difficult process. The first step in favor of the environment could be the replacement of beef with other types of meat that have a lower impact on the environment, such as chicken and pork. The purpose of this study is to understand the causes limiting the preference for these alternatives and to identify useful tools to encourage their consumption. The results show that the interviewed Argentine consumers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires have preconceptions about these two types of meat, such as the fact that hormones are still used in the chicken production system, that pork has higher cholesterol content than other meats, and that it carries diseases. These products are instead appreciated for their practicality of use, especially when purchased in portions, and they are not only tasty but also cheap

Estabilidade da cor de doces em massa de polpa de umbu (Spondias Tuberosa Arr. Cam.) no estádio de maturação verde.

Os frutos de umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) maduros são altamente perecíveis, e o aproveitamento deles no estádio de maturação verde, sob a forma de doce é uma interessante alternativa econômica, para o semi-árido nordestino. A conservação da cor, durante o armazenamento, constitui um fator de qualidade dos mais importantes para o consumo, e o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar sua alteração em função de diferentes formulações, embalagens (polipropileno e celofane) e temperaturas (33 e 43°C), por 90 dias de armazenamento. A adição de pectina e/ou xarope de glicose não alterou a luminosidade (L*), mas diminuiu os valores de a* (intensidade do vermelho ) e b*. (intensidade do amarelo). Verificou-se diminuição dos valores de L* a* e b*, notadamente para os doces armazenados à temperatura de 43°C e para a formulação sem adição de pectina. A embalagem não exerceu efeito significativo sobre L*( luminosidade), mas afetou a* e b* aos 90 dias de estocagem, em ambas as temperaturas. Os resultados globais indicaram o uso de pectina e xarope de glicose, embalagens de polipropileno e estocagem à temperaturas mais baixas como sendo as condições mais adequadas para preservação da cor

Addressing the Third Law of Gardening: Methodological Alternatives in Aphasiology

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The Modification of Spousal Interaction After Aphasia

Researchers have investigated the ways spouses collaboratively overcome the communication barriers they face subsequent to aphasia in one of the partners (e.g., Oelschlaeger & Damico, 2003). These studies have demonstrated ways that the interactional dynamic is employed to re-establish social action after aphasia. However, little has been done to determine how spousal dyads created these modifications. This study was undertaken to investigate how the evolution of the described adaptations to conversation within spousal dyads was accomplished

Il Questionario «Experiences In Close Relationships» (Ecr) Per la Valutazione dell’attaccamento negli Adulti: Ampliamento Delle Evidenze di Validità per la Versione Italiana.

Objective Improvement in the assessment of adult attachment are mandatory, if research on attachment and psychopathology is to make substantial progress. In a preliminary study, the Italian version of the questionnaire ‘Experiences in Close Relationships’ (ECR) demonstrated good psychometric properties. We aimed at collecting further evidence of the validity of the questionnaire. Methods We included in the study subjects of 18-65 years, with at least junior high school degree. We examined convergent validity on 364 subjects, with the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) as a criterion measure. In these subjects, we also compared three different Italian translations of item 21 with regard to factorial validity and internal consistency. Data from these subjects and other 386 subjects were used to compute norms for scale scores, stratified for age and gender. Results Internal consistency was satisfactory. Cronbach’s alpha was. 89 for both the ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Avoidance’ scales. A new Italian version of item 21 showed better psychometric properties as compared to the preceding version. A six-factor solution was obtained, explaining 61.3% of total variance. Then, factor scores were computed with the regression method, and a second-order factor analysis was performed. A two-factor solution was obtained, and the factors were clearly interpretable as ‘anxiety’ and ‘avoidance’. The pattern of correlations between ECR and RQ was as hypothesised, and the ECR was also found to possess good classification properties. Conclusion The Italian version of the ECR was confirmed to be reliable and valid. It might be useful for Italian researchers interested in adult attachment

The Impact of Spontaneous Recovery in Clinical Aphasiology

In clinical aphasiology, there are a number of well-accepted concepts that are considered organizing constructs in the discipline. One such construct is the concept of spontaneous recovery (SR). This construct influences the expectations that we hold regarding the time frame for greatest recovery and for best clinical response, and a host of theoretical and organizing principles that determine much of our planning and research design and that guide our expectations with respect to treatment, recovery, reimbursement, and explanatory mechanisms for recovery. However, the construct itself has been little studied

RVA. 3-D Visualization and Analysis Software to Support Management of Oil and Gas Resources

A free software application, RVA, has been developed as a plugin to the US DOE-funded ParaView visualization package, to provide support in the visualization and analysis of complex reservoirs being managed using multi-fluid EOR techniques. RVA, for Reservoir Visualization and Analysis, was developed as an open-source plugin to the 64 bit Windows version of ParaView 3.14. RVA was developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with contributions from the Illinois State Geological Survey, Department of Computer Science and National Center for Supercomputing Applications. RVA was designed to utilize and enhance the state-of-the-art visualization capabilities within ParaView, readily allowing joint visualization of geologic framework and reservoir fluid simulation model results. Particular emphasis was placed on enabling visualization and analysis of simulation results highlighting multiple fluid phases, multiple properties for each fluid phase (including flow lines), multiple geologic models and multiple time steps. Additional advanced functionality was provided through the development of custom code to implement data mining capabilities. The built-in functionality of ParaView provides the capacity to process and visualize data sets ranging from small models on local desktop systems to extremely large models created and stored on remote supercomputers. The RVA plugin that we developed and the associated User Manual provide improved functionality through new software tools, and instruction in the use of ParaView-RVA, targeted to petroleum engineers and geologists in industry and research. The RVA web site (http://rva.cs.illinois.edu) provides an overview of functions, and the development web site (https://github.com/shaffer1/RVA) provides ready access to the source code, compiled binaries, user manual, and a suite of demonstration data sets. Key functionality has been included to support a range of reservoirs visualization and analysis needs, including: sophisticated connectivity analysis, cross sections through simulation results between selected wells, simplified volumetric calculations, global vertical exaggeration adjustments, ingestion of UTChem simulation results, ingestion of Isatis geostatistical framework models, interrogation of joint geologic and reservoir modeling results, joint visualization and analysis of well history files, location-targeted visualization, advanced correlation analysis, visualization of flow paths, and creation of static images and animations highlighting targeted reservoir features.Department of Energy, DOE award number DE-FE0005961Ope