RTTOOL : a tool for extracting relative thresholds for source code metrics

Meaningful thresholds are essential for promoting source code metrics as an effective instrument to control the internal quality of software systems. Despite the increasing number of source code measurement tools, no publicly available tools support extraction of metric thresholds. Moreover, earlier studies suggest that in larger systems significant number of classes exceed recommended metric thresholds. Therefore, in our previous study we have introduced the notion of a relative threshold, i.e., a pair including an upper limit and a percentage of classes whose metric values should not exceed this limit. In this paper we propose RTTOOL, an open source tool for extracting relative thresholds from the measurement data of a benchmark of software systems. RTTOOL is publicly available at http://aserg.labsoft.dcc.ufmg.br/rttool. Keywords: Source code metrics; Relative thresholds; Software quality; Software measurement

Idade Precoce De Início Da Atividade Sexual Está Associada A Elevada Prevalência De Lesão Intraepitelial Escamosa De Alto Grau

To evaluate the association of age at first sexual intercourse with the results of the cervicovaginal cytology. Study Design Observational analytical study about the prevalence of altered cervicovaginal cytology results in women aged between 18 and 34 years from a densely populated area in Brazil, during 10 years. The patients were stratified into 2 categories according to their age at first sexual intercourse (13–16 years and 17–24 years). Results From the total of 2,505,154 exams, 898,921 tests were in accordance with the inclusion criteria. Considering women with 4 years or less from the first sexual intercourse as a reference, those with 5 to 9 years and 10 years or more showed a higher prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Women with an earlier onset of sexual intercourse (13–16 years) showed higher prevalence ratios for atypical squamous cells (ASC), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and HSIL. The prevalence ratio for HSIL adjusted by age at diagnosis and by age at first sexual intercourse was higher only for women with an earlier onset of sexual intercourse. Conclusions The age of first sexual intercourse could be a variable that might qualify the selection among young women who are really at a higher risk for HSIL. © 2017 by Thieme-Revinter Publicações Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.3928085UNICAMP, Universidade Estadual de Campina

Communication: Transient Anion States Of Phenol...(h2o) N (n = 1, 2) Complexes: Search For Microsolvation Signatures

We report on the shape resonance spectra of phenol-water clusters, as obtained from elastic electron scattering calculations. Our results, along with virtual orbital analysis, indicate that the well-known indirect mechanism for hydrogen elimination in the gas phase is significantly impacted on by microsolvation, due to the competition between vibronic couplings on the solute and solvent molecules. This fact suggests how relevant the solvation effects could be for the electron-driven damage of biomolecules and the biomass delignification [E. M. de Oliveira et al., Phys. Rev. A 86, 020701(R) (2012)]. We also discuss microsolvation signatures in the differential cross sections that could help to identify the solvated complexes and access the composition of gaseous admixtures of these species. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.1415NSF; National Stroke FoundationSanche, L., (2005) Eur. Phys. J. D, 35, p. 367. , For a review, see, 10.1140/epjd/e2005-00206-6Wang, C.-R., Nguyen, J., Lu, Q.-B., (2009) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131, p. 11320. , 10.1021/ja902675gBaccarelli, I., Bald, I., Gianturco, F.A., Illenberger, E., Kopyra, J., (2011) Phys. Rep., 508, p. 1. , 10.1016/j.physre2011.06.004Bettega, M.H.F., Lima, M.A.P., (2007) J. Chem. Phys., 126, p. 194317. , 10.1063/1.2739514De Oliveira, E.M., Lima, M.A.P., Bettega, M.H.F., Sanchez, S.D.A., Da Costa, R.F., Varella, M.T.D.N., (2010) J. Chem. Phys., 132, p. 204301. , 10.1063/1.3428620Baccarelli, I., Grandi, A., Gianturco, F.A., Lucchese, R.R., Sanna, N., (2006) J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, p. 26240. , 10.1021/jp065872nFabrikant, I.I., Caprasecca, S., Gallup, G.A., Gorfinkiel, J.D., (2012) J. Chem. Phys., 136, p. 184301. , 10.1063/1.4706604Freitas, T.C., Lima, M.A.P., Canuto, S., Bettega, M.H.F., (2009) Phys. Rev. A, 80, p. 062710. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.062710Freitas, T.C., Coutinho, K., Varella, M.T.D.N., Lima, M.A.P., Canuto, S., Bettega, M.H.F., (2013) J. Chem. Phys., 138, p. 174307. , 10.1063/1.4803119De Oliveira, E.M., Sanchez, S.D.A., Bettega, M.H.F., Natalense, A.P.P., Lima, M.A.P., Do Varella N, M.T., (2012) Phys. Rev. A, 86, pp. 020701-R. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.86.020701Jordan, K.D., Michejda, J.A., Burrow, P.D., (1976) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 98, p. 7189. , 10.1021/ja00439a014Khatymov, R.V., Muftakhov, M.V., Mazunov, V.A., (2003) Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 17, p. 2327. , 10.1002/rcm.1197Dos Santos, J.S., Da Costa, R.F., Varella, M.T.D.N., (2012) J. Chem. Phys., 136, p. 084307. , 10.1063/1.3687345Bettega, M.H.F., Ferreira, L.G., Lima, M.A.P., (1993) Phys. Rev. A, 47, p. 1111. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.47.1111Da Costa, R.F., Da Paixão, F.J., Lima, M.A.P., (2004) J. Phys. B, 37, pp. L129. , 10.1088/0953-4075/37/6/L03Takatsuka, K., McKoy, V., (1981) Phys. Rev. A, 24, p. 2473. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.24.2473Takatsuka, K., McKoy, V., (1984) Phys. Rev. A, 30, p. 1734. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.30.1734Barreto, R.C., Coutinho, K., Georg, H.C., Canuto, S., (2009) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 11, p. 1388. , 10.1039/b816912h(1998) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, , 79th ed., edited by D. R. Lide (CRC, Boca Raton)http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4892066Nenner, I., Schulz, G.J., (1975) J. Chem. Phys., 62, p. 1747. , 10.1063/1.430700Winstead, C., McKoy, V., (2007) Phys. Rev. Lett., 98, p. 113201. , 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.113201Winstead, C., McKoy, V., (2007) Phys. Rev. A, 76, p. 012712. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.76.012712Mažín, Z., Gorfinkiel, J.D., (2011) J. Chem. Phys., 135, p. 144308. , 10.1063/1.3650236Modelli, A., Burrow, P.W., (2004) J. Phys. Chem. A, 108, p. 5721. , 10.1021/jp048759aSchmidt, M.W., Baldridge, K.K., Boatz, J.A., Elbert, S.T., Gordon, M.S., Jensen, J.H., Koseki, S., Montgomery, J.A., (1993) J. Comput. Chem., 14, p. 1347. , 10.1002/jcc.540141112Kossoski, F., Bettega, M.H.F., Varella, M.T.D.N., (2014) J. Chem. Phys., 140, p. 024317. , 10.1063/1.4861589Gallup, G., Burrow, P., Fabrikant, I., (2009) Phys. Rev. A, 79, p. 042701. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.79.042701Gallup, G., Burrow, P., Fabrikant, I., (2009) Phys. Rev. A, 80, p. 046702. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.046702Scheer, A.M., Mozejko, P., Gallup, G.A., Burrow, P.D., (2007) J. Chem. Phys., 126, p. 174301. , 10.1063/1.2727460Asmis, K.R., Allan, M., Pyrrole Data in the Gallery of Unpublished EEL Spectra, , http://www.chem.unifr.ch/ma/dir_allan/pyrrole_EELS.pdfHaxton, D.J., McCurdy, C.W., Rescigno, T.N., (2007) Phys. Rev. A, 75, p. 012710. , 10.1103/PhysRevA.75.012710Bode, B.M., Gordon, M.S., (1998) J. Mol. Graphics Modell., 16, p. 133. , 10.1016/S1093-3263(99)00002-9Fuke, K., Kaya, K., (1983) Chem. Phys. Lett., 94, p. 97. , 10.1016/0009-2614(83)87218-

Theoretical and experimental differential cross sections for electron impact excitation of the electronic bands of furfural

13 págs.; 8 figs.; 6 tabs.We report results from a joint experimental and theoretical investigation into electron scattering from the important industrial species furfural (CHO). Specifically, differential cross sections (DCSs) have been measured and calculated for the electron-impact excitation of the electronic states of CHO. The measurements were carried out at energies in the range 20-40 eV, and for scattered-electron angles between 10°and 90°. The energy resolution of those experiments was typically ∼80 meV. Corresponding Schwinger multichannel method with pseudo-potential calculations, for energies between 6-50 eV and with and without Born-closure, were also performed for a sub-set of the excited electronic-states that were accessed in the measurements. Those calculations were undertaken at the static exchange plus polarisation-level using a minimum orbital basis for single configuration interaction (MOB-SCI) approach. Agreement between the measured and calculated DCSs was qualitatively quite good, although to obtain quantitative accord, the theory would need to incorporate even more channels into the MOB-SCI. The role of multichannel coupling on the computed electronic-state DCSs is also explored in some detail. ©2016 AIP Publishing LLCR.F.C.N. thanks CNPq (Brazil) and the Science Without Borders Programme for opportunities to study abroad. D.B.J. thanks the Australian Research Council (ARC) for financial support provided through a Discovery Early Career Research Award, while M.J.B. also thanks the ARC for their support. M.J.B. and M.C.A.L. acknowledge the Brazilian agencies CNPq and FAPEMIG. P.L.-V. acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCTMEC) through Grant Nos. PTDC/FIS-ATO/1832/2012 and UIO/FIS/00068/2013. G.G. acknowledges partial financial support from the Spanish Ministry MINECO (Project No. FIS2012-31230) and the European Union COST Action No. CM1301 (CELINA). Finally, R.F.d.C., M.T.d.N.V., M.H.F.B., and M.A.P.L. acknowledge support from the Brazilian agency CNPq and M.T.d.N.V. also thanks FAPESP.Peer Reviewe

Spin Glass Behavior in RuSr2Gd1.5Ce0.5Cu2O10

The dynamics of the magnetic properties of polycrystalline RuSr2Gd1.5Ce0.5Cu2O10 (Ru-1222) have been studied by ac susceptibility and dc magnetization measurements, including relaxation and ageing studies. Ru-1222 is a reported magneto-superconductor with Ru spins magnetic ordering at temperatures near 100 K and superconductivity in Cu-O2 planes below Tc ~ 40 K. The exact nature of Ru spins magnetic ordering is still debated and no conclusion has been reached yet. In this work, a frequency-dependent cusp was observed in ac susceptibility vs. T measurements, which is interpreted as a spin glass transition. The change in the cusp position with frequency follows the Vogel-Fulcher law, which is commonly accepted to describe a spin glass with magnetically interacting clusters. Such interpretation is supported by themoremanaent magnetization (TRM) measurements at T = 60 K. TRM relaxations are well described by a stretched exponential relation, and present significant ageing effects.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Ferromagnetism and Canted Spin Phase in AlAs/GaMnAs Single Quantum Wells: Monte Carlo Simulation

The magnetic order resulting from a confinement-adapted Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida indirect exchange between magnetic moments in the metallic phase of a AlAs/Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As quantum well is studied by Monte Carlo simulation. This coupling mechanism involves magnetic moments and carriers (holes), both coming from the same Mn(2+) ions. It leads to a paramagnetic, a ferromagnetic, or a canted spin phase, depending on the carrier concentration, and on the magnetic layer width. It is shown that high transition temperatures may be obtained.Comment: 7 figure

Activation of leukocyte rolling by the cysteine-rich domain and the hyper-variable region of HF3, a snake venom hemorrhagic metalloproteinase

AbstractThe functionality of the disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich domains of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) has been shown to reside in the cysteine-rich region, which can interact with VWA-containing proteins. Recently, the hyper-variable region (HVR) of the cysteine-rich domain was suggested to constitute a potential protein–protein adhesive interface. Here we show that recombinant proteins of HF3, a hemorrhagic P-III SVMP, containing the cysteine-rich domain (disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich and cysteine-rich proteins) but not the disintegrin-like protein were able to significantly increase leukocyte rolling in the microcirculation. Peptides from the HVR also promoted leukocyte rolling and this activity was inhibited by anti-alphaM/beta2 antibodies. These results show, for the first time, that the cysteine-rich domain and its HVR play a role in triggering pro-inflammatory effects mediated by integrins

Characterising splicing defects of ABCA4 variants within exons 13–50 in patient-derived fibroblasts

The ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 4 gene (ABCA4)-associated retinopathy, Stargardt disease, is the most common monogenic inherited retinal disease. Given the pathogenicity of numerous ABCA4 variants is yet to be examined and a significant proportion (more than 15%) of ABCA4 variants are categorized as splice variants in silico, we therefore established a fibroblast-based splice assay to analyze ABCA4 variants in an Australian Stargardt disease cohort and characterize the pathogenic mechanisms of ABCA4 variants. A cohort of 67 patients clinically diagnosed with Stargardt disease was recruited. Genomic DNA was analysed using a commercial panel for ABCA4 variant detection and the consequences of ABCA4 variants were predicted in silico. Dermal fibroblasts were propagated from skin biopsies, total RNA was extracted and the ABCA4 transcript was amplified by RT-PCR. Our analysis identified a total of 67 unique alleles carrying 74 unique variants. The most prevalent splice-affecting complex allele c.[5461-10T > C; 5603A > T] was carried by 10% of patients in a compound heterozygous state. ABCA4 transcripts from exon 13 to exon 50 were readily detected in fibroblasts. In this region, aberrant splicing was evident in 10 out of 57 variant transcripts (18%), carried by 19 patients (28%). Patient-derived fibroblasts provide a feasible platform for identification of ABCA4 splice variants located within exons 13–50. Experimental evidence of aberrant splicing contributes to the pathogenic classification for ABCA4 variants. Moreover, identification of variants that affect splicing processes provides opportunities for intervention, in particular antisense oligonucleotide-mediated splice correction

Promising prospective effects of Withania somnifera on broiler performance and carcass characteristics: A comprehensive review

Poultry production contributes markedly to bridging the global food gap. Many nations have limited the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to increasing bacterial antibiotic tolerance/resistance, as well as the presence of antibiotic residues in edible tissues of the birds. Consequently, the world is turning to use natural alternatives to improve birds' productivity and immunity. Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is abundant in many countries of the world and is considered a potent medicinal herb because of its distinct chemical, medicinal, biological, and physiological properties. This plant exhibits antioxidant, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antistress, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and growth-promoting activities. In poultry, dietary inclusion of W. somnifera revealed promising results in improving feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and feed conversion ratio, as well as reducing mortality, increasing livability, increasing disease resistance, reducing stress impacts, and maintaining health of the birds. This review sheds light on the distribution, chemical structure, and biological effects of W. somnifera and its impacts on poultry productivity, livability, carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood parameters, immune response, and economic efficiency