Is My Project's Truck Factor Low? Theoretical and Empirical Considerations About the Truck Factor Threshold

The Truck Factor is a simple way, proposed by the agile community, to measure the system's knowledge distribution in a team of developers. It can be used to highlight potential project problems due to the inadequate distribution of the system knowledge. Notwithstanding its relevance, only few studies investigated the Truck Factor and proposed ways to efficiently measure, evaluate and use it. In particular, the effective use of the Truck Factor is limited by the lack of reliable thresholds. In this preliminary paper, we present a theoretical model concerning the Truck Factor and, in particular, we investigate its use to define the maximum achievable Truck Factor value in a project. The relevance of such a value concerns the definition of a reliable threshold for the Truck Factor. Furthermore in the paper, we document an experiment in which we apply the proposed model to real software projects with the aim of comparing the maximum achievable value of the Truck Factor with the unique threshold proposed in literature. The preliminary outcome we achieved shows that the existing threshold has some limitations and problem

MERMAID: dedicated web server to prepare and run coarse-grained membrane protein dynamics

Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins have been shown to be extremely useful for characterizing the molecular features underlying their function, but require high computational power, limiting the understanding of complex events in membrane proteins, e.g. ion channels gating, GPCRs activation. To overcome this issue, it has been shown that coarse-grained approaches, although requiring less computational power, are still capable of correctly describing molecular events underlying big conformational changes in biological systems. Here, we present the Martini coarse-grained membrane protein dynamics (MERMAID), a publicly available web interface that allows the user to prepare and run coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations and to analyse the trajectories

Welcome to the 8th International Workshop on Empirical Requirements Engineering (EmpiRE 2023)

A message from the workshop chairs of the 8th International Workshop on Empirical Requirements Engineering, co-located with the 31st IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE 2023) Hannover, Germany, September 4–8, 2023

A Methodological Framework for Evaluating Software Testing Techniques and Tools

© 2012 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.There exists a real need in industry to have guidelines on what testing techniques use for different testing objectives, and how usable (effective, efficient, satisfactory) these techniques are. Up to date, these guidelines do not exist. Such guidelines could be obtained by doing secondary studies on a body of evidence consisting of case studies evaluating and comparing testing techniques and tools. However, such a body of evidence is also lacking. In this paper, we will make a first step towards creating such body of evidence by defining a general methodological evaluation framework that can simplify the design of case studies for comparing software testing tools, and make the results more precise, reliable, and easy to compare. Using this framework, (1) software testing practitioners can more easily define case studies through an instantiation of the framework, (2) results can be better compared since they are all executed according to a similar design, (3) the gap in existing work on methodological evaluation frameworks will be narrowed, and (4) a body of evidence will be initiated. By means of validating the framework, we will present successful applications of this methodological framework to various case studies for evaluating testing tools in an industrial environment with real objects and real subjects.This work was funded by the European project FITTEST (ICT257574, 2010-2013) and Spanish National project CaSA-Calidad (TIN2010-12312-E, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)Vos, TE.; Marín, B.; Escalona, MJ.; Marchetto, A. (2012). A Methodological Framework for Evaluating Software Testing Techniques and Tools. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/QSIC.2012.16

Human Mutated MYOT and CRYAB Genes Cause a Myopathic Phenotype in Zebrafish

Myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs) are a group of hereditary neuromuscular disorders sharing common histological features, such as myofibrillar derangement, Z-disk disintegration, and accumulation of degradation products into protein aggregates. They are caused by mutations in several genes that encode either structural proteins or molecular chaperones. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which mutated genes result in protein aggregation are still unknown. To unveil the role of myotilin and αB-crystallin in the pathogenesis of MFM, we injected zebrafish fertilized eggs at one-cell stage with expression plasmids harboring cDNA sequences of human wildtype or mutated MYOT (p.Ser95Ile) and human wildtype or mutated CRYAB (p.Gly154Ser). We evaluated the effects on fish survival, motor behavior, muscle structure and development. We found that transgenic zebrafish showed morphological defects that were more severe in those overexpressing mutant genes which developed a myopathic phenotype consistent with that of human myofibrillar myopathy including the formation of protein aggregates. Results indicate that pathogenic mutations in myotilin and αB-crystallin genes associated with MFM cause a structural and functional impairment of the skeletal muscle in zebrafish, thereby making this non-mammalian organism a powerful model to dissect disease pathogenesis and find possible druggable targets

Impacts of air pollution on human and ecosystem health, and implications for the National Emission Ceilings Directive. Insights from Italy

Across the 28 EU member states there were nearly half a million premature deaths in 2015 as a result of exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2. To set the target for air quality levels and avoid negative impacts for human and ecosystems health, the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD, 2016/2284/EU) sets objectives for emission reduction for SO2, NOx, NMVOCs, NH3 and PM2.5 for each Member State as percentages of reduction to be reached in 2020 and 2030 compared to the emission levels into 2005. One of the innovations of NECD is Article 9, that mentions the issue of “monitoring air pollution impacts” on ecosystems. We provide a clear picture of what is available in term of monitoring network for air pollution impacts on Italian ecosystems, summarizing what has been done to control air pollution and its effects on different ecosystems in Italy. We provide an overview of the impacts of air pollution on health of the Italian population and evaluate opportunities and implementation of Article 9 in the Italian context, as a case study beneficial for all Member States. The results showed that SO42− deposition strongly decreased in all monitoring sites in Italy over the period 1999–2017, while NO3− and NH4+ decreased more slightly. As a consequence, most of the acid-sensitive sites which underwent acidification in the 1980s partially recovered. The O3 concentration at forest sites showed a decreasing trend. Consequently, AOT40 (the metric identified to protect vegetation from ozone pollution) showed a decrease, even if values were still above the limit for forest protection (5000 ppb h−1), while PODy (flux-based metric under discussion as new European legislative standard for forest protection) showed an increase. National scale studies pointed out that PM10 and NO2 induced about 58,000 premature deaths (year 2005), due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The network identified for Italy contains a good number of monitoring sites (6 for terrestrial ecosystem monitoring, 4 for water bodies monitoring and 11 for ozone impact monitoring) distributed over the territory and will produce a high number of monitored parameters for the implementation of the NECD

Aree di studio, siti e strategie di campionamento, difficolt? complessive e sintesi dei principali risultati. Parte B: Laghi

After the preliminary actions for the selection of sites, a successive step was reached: the definition of the lakes under investigation within the project INHABIT. In this deliverable we report a brief description of each morphological and morphometric, geological and geomorphological features, with the description of the origin of the lakes, of land use, particularly important to understand and define the insistent pressure of the lake and imposed from the basin, of hydrology, an integral part of the characteristics and the ecological quality of a lake, and of the pressures due to sewage, industry, agriculture and livestock. In some lakes, we also reported the current trophic status and its evolution over time and the actions planned to improve water quality on the basis of the European Directive 2000/60/EC, the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Furthermore, for all studied lakes we also reported the regional maps for showing the watershed and its hydrography, and an aerial photo to help to identify the morphological characteristics of the lake cuvette. On each lake under study, the project involves the collection of biological samples for the four parameters of quality, as indicated by the WFD, and hydro-morphological characteristics, according to the sampling protocols defined at the national level and presently subject of international harmonization. Chapter 1 provides a description of sampling methods and procedures for the four biological parameters investigated: macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, macrophytes and fish. Each sampling protocol identifies the sampling period, different for each parameter. For example, for the macrobenthos were identified two annual periods (one spring and one fall), for macrophytes the sampling period is during the maximum vegetative growth of plants. Phytoplankton, on the contrary, is sampled periodically several times during the year and, finally, fishes are sampled from spring to autumn. In the description of the protocols and procedures, sampling sites are also identified. The point of investigation vary from element to element. For example, macrophytes and macrobenthos are sampled along transects, i.e. "lines" distributed in a different way to cover the entire lake. On the contrary, phytoplankton is sampled at the deepest point of the lake, and fishes are collected in different areas arranged in different areas of the lake. In this chapter are also included photos of the equipment used for sampling, and of the sampling procedure when relevant. During the collection of macroinvertebrates and phytoplankton samples, water samples for chemical analysis are also collected. Chemical data are used to support and complete the description and the ecological characterization of the lakes. Furthermore, during macroinvertebrates samples, we also collected sediment samples for particle size and chemical analysis, to define the correct placement of transects on the basis of sediment characteristics and to collect basic information needed for the interpretation of data. In addition to the biological parameters, hydro-morphological characteristics of the studied lakes were also investigated, using the Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), a method developed for the English lakes and the being presently standardized at the European level. In this project, LHS will be validated for the Italian lakes. The lakes selected for investigation are 12, including natural and heavily modified waterbodies, and located in two regions: Piedmont and Sardinia. Seven sites are in Piedmont and 5 in Sardinia. The project originally planned 6 sites for each region, including the only natural lake in Sardinia: Lake Baratz. During the first sampling campaign in Sardinia, when macrobenthos was collected, he became aware of the presence of unexploded ordnance on the lake bottom. Working on, and in proximity of the bottom of the lake was excessively dangerous, and it was decided to transfer the activities on the four biological parameters in another lake, Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, a natural lake in Piedmont, lying in a natural park and of particular ecological interest . However, it was decided to keep the sampling of Lake Baratz for the biological parameters which can be sampled without danger, i.e. phytoplankton and macrophytes. In effect, being this lake the only natural lake in Sardinia, it can provide information on natural lakewater communities in the Region, otherwise missing. Selected lakes in Piedmont are the following: Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, in a Regional Park, Lake Candia, in a Provincial Park, Lake Viverone, subject to strong touristic pressure, Lake Sirio, less impacted by tourism, and two heavily modified waterbodies: Morasco, in the basin of River Toce and Serr? in the Gran Paradiso National Park, both built for hydroelectric purposes. In Sardinia, all the 5 fully investigated lakes are heavily modified waterbodies, namely Bidighinzu, Sos Canales, Liscia, Posada and Torrei. The main use for most of these basins is providing drinking water, only for Posada is providing water for agriculture. However, waters from Liscia and Posada are also used for other purposes, irrigation for the former and industry, drinking water and hydroelectric power for the latter. During the sampling campaigns, and particularly during the application of the LHS method which requires to examine the transition between an observation point and the following along the entire lake shore, we made a number of pictures of each lake in order to document the pressures on the coast, such as beaches, docks, artworks, human activities, and to show peculiar coastal and subcoastal habitats, such as sandy areas, reed beds, rocky areas, oxbow lakes, wetlands, riparian vegetation and macrophytes. A small selection of this vast collection of pictures is used in chapters 3 and 4, to show the features of each sampled lake. Sampling activities are not yet finished for all quality parameters, both because of the late selection Lake Piccolo di Avigliana, and because of difficulties due to weather conditions. It is expected to complete all sampling and analyses by Summer 2012. Preliminary data can be found in Chapter 5 for both regions, but only for some parameters and some lakes. In effect, biological analyses require different time and commitment for the different biological elements quality, so that the results the could be obtained faster are reported in this deliverable. A further activity in preparation for the near future is the preparation of a database for the hydromorphological parameters to be used for the calibration and the development of synthetic indices of morphological alteration and habitat quality. This adjustment is necessary because, in an earlier phase of verification of the applicability of the LHS method to the hydromorphological characteristics of the Italian lakes, it emerged the necessity to change some entries in the field card. These changes must also be included in the database associated with the method and in the formulation of the index.Dopo le azioni preliminari per la scelta dei siti si ? giunti, a passi successivi, alla definizione dei laghi oggetto di indagine all\u27interno del progetto INHABIT. In questo deliverable si riporta una sintetica descrizione delle caratteristiche morfologiche e morfometriche di ciascuno, le caratteristiche geologiche e geomorfologiche, con la descrizione della formazione di alcuni laghi, l\u27uso del suolo, particolarmente importante per capire e definire le pressioni insistenti sul lago e gravanti dal bacino, l\u27idrologia, parte integrante delle caratteristiche e della qualit? ecologica di un lago, le pressioni puntuali dovute a scarichi fognari e/o industriali, agricoli e zootecnici. Di alcuni laghi, si ? anche riportato lo stato trofico attuale e la sua evoluzione nel tempo e le azioni regionali intraprese o che si intendono intraprendere per migliorarne la qualit? alla luce delle indicazione della WFD 2000/60. Inoltre, per tutti i laghi studiati si sono riportate anche la cartografia tecnica regionale per l\u27individuazione di ciascun bacino imbrifero e della rete idrografica principale che lo caratterizza, e una foto aerea per meglio identificare le caratteristiche morfologiche della cuvetta lacustre. Su ciascun lago oggetto di studio, il progetto prevede la raccolta di campioni per i quattro parametri biologici di qualit?, cos? come indicati dalla Direttiva Quadro sulle Acque, e delle caratteristiche idromorfologiche, secondo i protocolli di campionamento definiti a livello nazionale e oggetto di intercalibrazione a livello internazionale. Nel capitolo 1 sono riportate una descrizione delle metodiche e delle modalit? di campionamento per i quattro parametri biologici indagati, macroinvertebrati, fitoplancton, macrofite e pesci. Ogni protocollo di campionamento individua il periodo di campionamento, diverso per ciascun parametro, ad esempio per il macrobenthos si sono individuati due periodi annuali (uno primaverile e l\u27altro autunnale), per le macrofite il periodo di campionamento ? quello del massimo sviluppo vegetativo delle piante, mentre il fitoplancton viene raccolto periodicamente diverse volte, durante l\u27anno di campionamento. Infine i pesci sono campionati da primavera ad autunno. Nella descrizione del protocollo e delle modalit? di campionamento, vengono anche individuati i siti di lavoro, ovvero i punti di indagine, che variano molto da elemento a elemento. Ad esempio, le macrofite e il macrobenthos vengono campionati lungo un transetto, quindi su diverse "linee" distribuite in modo diverso fino a coprire tutto il lago. Il fitoplancton viene campionato nel punto pi? profondo del lago, quindi risulta un campionamento "puntuale" e i pesci vengono raccolti in diverse aree disposte in diverse zone del lago, si possono quindi pensare come campioni "areali". Nel suddetto capitolo si sono riportate anche foto della strumentazione necessaria e utilizzata per il campionamento e altre relative ad alcune fasi di raccolta dei campioni. Unitamente alla raccolta della fauna a macroinvertebrati e del fitoplancton vengono anche raccolti campioni di acqua per le analisi chimiche da utilizzare a sostegno e a completamento delle indagini e della caratterizzazione ecologica del lago. Inoltre, sempre unitamente al campionamento dei macroinvertebrati vengono prelevati campioni di sedimento per l\u27analisi granulometrica e chimica, per definire il corretto posizionamento dei transetti e raccogliere informazioni complementari ma basilari, per l\u27interpretazione dei dati. Oltre ai parametri biologici si sono indagate anche le caratteristiche idromorfologiche di ciascun lago scelto, utilizzando il metodo Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), nato per i laghi inglesi e oggetto di standardizzazione a livello europeo, e in questo progetto, oggetto di validazione per i laghi italiani. I laghi su cui effettuare campionamento e indagine sono 12, tra naturali e fortemente modificati, e situati nelle due regioni Piemonte e Sardegna, suddivisi in 7 laghi in Piemonte e 5 in Sardegna. Inizialmente erano previsti 6 laghi ciascuna regione con l\u27inclusione dell\u27unico lago naturale sardo: il Lago Baratz. Dopo la prima campagna di campionamento in Sardegna, quella relativa al macrobenthos, si ? venuti a conoscenza della presenza di ordigni inesplosi sul fondo del lago. Giudicando pericoloso lavorare sui suoi sedimenti ma anche nelle vicinanze del fondo stesso, si ? deciso di continuare l\u27attivit? sui quattro parametri biologici in un altro lago, il Lago Piccolo di Avigliana, lago naturale piemontese, zona di Parco Naturale e di particolare interesse ecologico. Si ? comunque deciso di mantenere il campionamento del Lago Baratz per quei parametri giudicati non pericolosi, fitoplancton e macrofite in quanto, essendo l\u27unico lago naturale sardo riveste una particolare importanza sia per la Regione Sardegna sia per la raccolta di informazioni biologiche nella Regione, altrimenti mancanti. I laghi scelti quindi sono, in Piemonte: il Piccolo di Avigliana, il Candia e il Viverone nell\u27anfiteatro morenico di Ivrea, il primo Parco Provinciale, il secondo meta turistica e oggetto quindi di forti pressioni sia sulle rive che sull\u27intero lago; il Sirio di particolare interesse sia turistico che naturalistico e due corpi idrici fortemente modificati: il Morasco, nel bacino dell\u27Alto Toce e il Serr? all\u27interno del Parco del Gran Paradiso, entrambi creati a scopo idroelettrico. Per quanto riguarda la Sardegna i 5 laghi indagati in modo completo sono tutti corpi idrici fortemente modificati e sono: il Bidighinzu, il Sos Canales, il Liscia, il Posada e il Torrei; l\u27utilizzo prevalente per questi bacini ? quello potabile tranne che per il Posada che ? irriguo. Le acque del Liscia e del Posada sono utilizzate anche per altri scopi, irriguo e industriale il primo, potabile e idroelettrico il secondo. Durante le campagne di campionamento e soprattutto, durante l\u27applicazione del metodo idromorfologico che prevede il passaggio tra un punto di osservazione e l\u27altro, lungo tutto il perimetro sotto costa, si sono effettuate numerose fotografie di ciascun lago, per documentare sia le pressioni sulla costa, come spiagge attrezzate, banchine, artificializzazioni di varia natura, attivit? presenti, che particolari habitat litorali e sub litorali, come zone sabbiose, canneti, zone rocciose, lanche, aree umide, nonch? vegetazione spondale e riparia e macrofite. Del vasto repertorio fotografico raccolto si sono riportate solo alcune delle principali caratteristiche rilevate e sopra descritte, inserite nei capitoli 3 e 4, relativi ai singoli laghi campionati, rispettivamente in Piemonte e in Sardegna. Il lavoro di campionamento non ? ancora finito per tutti i parametri di qualit?, sia a causa della scelta tardiva del Lago Piccolo di Avigliana, sia per difficolt? di varia natura dovute alle condizioni meteorologiche. Si prevede di concludere tali attivit? entro l\u27estate del 2012. Le prime elaborazioni disponibili sono riportate nel capitolo 5 per entrambe le regioni, ma solo per alcuni parametri e per alcuni laghi. La determinazione delle specie presenti non richiede lo stesso tempo e lo stesso impegno per tutti i parametri di qualit? di conseguenza la chiusura dell\u27identificazione dei campioni raccolti sar? effettuata nelle attivit? prossime future. Un\u27altra attivit? in previsione per il prossimo futuro ? quella della taratura del database per i parametri idromorfologici per l\u27elaborazione degli indici sintetici di alterazione morfologica e di qualit? degli habitat. Tale taratura risulta necessaria in quanto, in una precedente fase di verifica dell\u27applicabilit? del metodo LHS alle caratteristiche idromorfologiche dei laghi italiani, ? stato necessario variare qualche voce nella scheda di campo. Tali variazioni dovranno essere inserite anche nel database associato al metodo