Crosscutting, what is and what is not? A Formal definition based on a Crosscutting Pattern

Crosscutting is usually described in terms of scattering and tangling. However, the distinction between these concepts is vague, which could lead to ambiguous statements. Sometimes, precise definitions are required, e.g. for the formal identification of crosscutting concerns. We propose a conceptual framework for formalizing these concepts based on a crosscutting pattern that shows the mapping between elements at two levels, e.g. concerns and representations of concerns. The definitions of the concepts are formalized in terms of linear algebra, and visualized with matrices and matrix operations. In this way, crosscutting can be clearly distinguished from scattering and tangling. Using linear algebra, we demonstrate that our definition generalizes other definitions of crosscutting as described by Masuhara & Kiczales [21] and Tonella and Ceccato [28]. The framework can be applied across several refinement levels assuring traceability of crosscutting concerns. Usability of the framework is illustrated by means of applying it to several areas such as change impact analysis, identification of crosscutting at early phases of software development and in the area of model driven software development

A family of Chebyshev-Halley type methods in Banach spaces

A family of third-order iterative processes (that includes Chebyshev and Halley's methods) is studied in Banach spaces. Results on convergence and uniqueness of solution are given, as well as error estimates. This study allows us to compare the most famous third-order iterative processes

Mass versus Direct Advertising and Product Quality

This paper analyzes how the use of mass vs. direct advertising can affect the pattern of price and quality competition in a market where two firms compete with vertically differentiated products. We show that, compared to the case where sellers employ only mass advertising, the use of database advertising based on historical sales records improves the competitive position of the low-quality firm, which achieves a larger market share and can obtain higher profits. As a result, the high-quality firm lowers the supply of quality, which decreases the degree of product differentiation in the market and triggers strong price competition, thus decreasing its profits and increasing consumer surplus. Finally, we show that, although database advertising is more cost-efficient than mass advertising, the market distortion in the provision of quality implies that the use of direct advertising can yield a welfare loss

Direct advertising and opt-in provisions: Policy and market implications

This paper formulates a game of pricing and informative advertising with horizontally-differentiated products in which two firms, first, compete with mass advertising and, later, build a database using their historical sales records and compete by targeting the ads to their potential customers. We study market interaction under two types of direct advertising: opt-in advertising, where firms ask consumers for their consent to send them ads with information about new products, and direct advertising without permission, where sellers use consumer contact information without their explicit consent. We show that, compared to the case where firms only use mass media, the use of direct ads (with or without permission) results in an intertemporal reallocation of market power from the first to the second period and that, compared to opt-in advertising, direct advertising without permission results in lower or equal prices. We also evaluate the impact of a regulatory policy aimed at protecting consumer privacy by banning the use of direct advertising without permission in favor of opt-in advertising. We find that this policy lowers social welfare and, if the degree of product differentiation is sufficiently high (vs. low), it does not affect (vs. lowers) firm profits and lowers (vs. increases) consumer surplus

Phonon-Induced Quantum Magnetic Deflagration in Mn12

A comprehensive set of experiments on the effect of high-frequency surface acoustic waves, SAWs, in the spin relaxation in Mn12-acetate is presented. We have studied the quantum magnetic deflagration induced by SAWs under various experimental conditions extending the data shown in a very recent paper [A. Hernandez-Minguez et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 217205 (2005)]. We have focused our study on the dependence of both the ignition time and the propagation speed of the magnetic avalanches on the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the SAW pulses in experiments performed under different temperatures and external magnetic fields.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Corporate social responsibility performance and sustainability reporting in SMEs: An analysis of owner-managers' perceptions

Public and private organisations promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to achieve competitive advantages in their relationship with stakeholders. Different studies indicate that SMEs have found benefits in their CSR performance. The aim of the present study is contributing to the knowledge of the perception and motivation of SME managers on the performance of CSR, considering the stakeholder theory, through a qualitative case study in two different economic environments and institutional influences: Spanish and Peruvian. It is found that the values of the owners and managers direct the policies of CSR. In some cases, the demands of employees and consumers are satisfied to obtain benefits; however, in other cases, those demands are satisfied with a non-instrumental approach

Effects of specific training applied to power in juniors football players for the improvement of power in the jump

El objetivo del presente estudio fue; a) comprobar los efectos de un entrenamiento especifico de potencia sobre la potencia de salto en jóvenes futbolistas b) conocer si la asociación de trabajos con cargas y pliometria está indicado para la potencia de salto. Para ello se reclutaron cuarenta jugadores juveniles españoles con una media de edad de (17.29 ± 0.791) pertenecientes a las categorías preferente y autonómica. Se formaron dos grupos, un grupo experimental GEX (P+F) asociaba un entrenamiento especial destinado a elevar los niveles de potencia junto al realizado habitualmente en su club. El programa se diseño con cargas especificas de carácter individual (después de realizar una evaluación para identificarlas mediante el mejor valor de potencia media con el dispositivo Isocontrol 5.2) y los ejercicios realizados fueron cargada de fuerza, media sentadilla, salto cargado y saltos continuos de 40 -50cm; se formo un segundo grupo denominado GC (F) que solo realizo su trabajo de futbol habitual en campo. Las variables evaluadas fueron; Salto CMJa y salto cargado (SC) se estableció un nivel de significación de p<0.05. Los resultados al final del estudio mostraron que el grupo el grupo GEX mejoro de manera estadísticamente significativa en CMJa y SC, mientras que en el grupo GC esos cambios no fueron significativos en ninguna de las variables. Estos resultados nos llevan a la conclusión que un entrenamiento específico de potencia asociado al entrenamiento habitual en el futbol en jugadores juveniles, mejora significativamente la potencia de salto con y sin carga

Effects of a strength training in Spanish football youth with the load express where the best value in the exercise of power loaded jump.

Con el presente estudio, se pretendió comprobar los efectos de un entrenamiento específico de potencia expresado en la curva de potencia carga, en jóvenes futbolistas. El ejercicio realizado es el salto cargado (SC). Para ello se reclutó a cuarenta jugadores juveniles españoles, con una media de edad de (17.29 ± 0.791), pertenecientes a las categorías preferente y autonómica. Se formaron dos grupos, un grupo experimental GEX (P+F) asociaba un entrenamiento especial, destinado a elevar los niveles de potencia junto al realizado habitualmente en su club. El programa se diseñó con cargas especificas de carácter individual (después de realizar una evaluación para identificarlas, mediante el mejor valor de potencia media con el dispositivo Isocontrol 5.2) y los ejercicios realizados, fueron: cargada colgado, media sentadilla, salto cargado y saltos continuos de 40 -50cm. Se formó un segundo grupo denominado GC (F) que solo realizó, su trabajo de fútbol habitual en campo. Las variables evaluadas en el (SC) fueron: la 1RM y la carga óptima, con la que el futbolista manifiesta la mejor potencia media en cinco repeticiones. Se estableció un nivel de significación de p≤0.05. Los resultados, tras ocho semanas mostraron, que el grupo el grupo GEX elevó de manera estadísticamente significativa el peso en el que el deportista manifiesta su máxima potencia, mientras que en el grupo GC esos cambios no fueron significativos. Estos resultados nos llevan a la conclusión, que un entrenamiento específico de potencia, asociado al entrenamiento habitual en el fútbol, en jugadores juveniles, mejora significativamente la carga óptima en relación con la 1RM en el SC y la carga optima donde se manifiesta la mejor potencia media en SC, se encuentra alrededor del 50% de 1RM. Finalmente el peso donde el jugador manifiesta su mejor valor de potencia se desplaza hacia la el punto de 1RM

Anomalous Roughening in Experiments of Interfaces in Hele-Shaw Flows with Strong Quenched Disorder

We report experimental evidences of anomalous kinetic roughening in the stable displacement of an oil-air interface in a Hele-Shaw cell with strong quenched disorder. The disorder consists on a random modulation of the gap spacing transverse to the growth direction (tracks). We have performed experiments varying average interface velocity and gap spacing, and measured the scaling exponents. We have obtained beta=0.50, beta*=0.25, alpha=1.0, alpha_l=0.5, and z=2. When there is no fluid injection, the interface is driven solely by capillary forces, and a higher value of beta around beta=0.65 is measured. The presence of multiscaling and the particular morphology of the interfaces, characterized by high slopes that follow a L\'evy distribution, confirms the existence of anomalous scaling. From a detailed study of the motion of the oil--air interface we show that the anomaly is a consequence of different local velocities over tracks plus the coupling in the motion between neighboring tracks. The anomaly disappears at high interface velocities, weak capillary forces, or when the disorder is not sufficiently persistent in the growth direction. We have also observed the absence of scaling when the disorder is very strong or when a regular modulation of the gap spacing is introduced.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figure