Reconciling Synthesis and Decomposition: A Composite Approach to Capability Identification

Stakeholders' expectations and technology constantly evolve during the lengthy development cycles of a large-scale computer based system. Consequently, the traditional approach of baselining requirements results in an unsatisfactory system because it is ill-equipped to accommodate such change. In contrast, systems constructed on the basis of Capabilities are more change-tolerant; Capabilities are functional abstractions that are neither as amorphous as user needs nor as rigid as system requirements. Alternatively, Capabilities are aggregates that capture desired functionality from the users' needs, and are designed to exhibit desirable software engineering characteristics of high cohesion, low coupling and optimum abstraction levels. To formulate these functional abstractions we develop and investigate two algorithms for Capability identification: Synthesis and Decomposition. The synthesis algorithm aggregates detailed rudimentary elements of the system to form Capabilities. In contrast, the decomposition algorithm determines Capabilities by recursively partitioning the overall mission of the system into more detailed entities. Empirical analysis on a small computer based library system reveals that neither approach is sufficient by itself. However, a composite algorithm based on a complementary approach reconciling the two polar perspectives results in a more feasible set of Capabilities. In particular, the composite algorithm formulates Capabilities using the cohesion and coupling measures as defined by the decomposition algorithm and the abstraction level as determined by the synthesis algorithm.Comment: This paper appears in the 14th Annual IEEE International Conference and Workshop on the Engineering of Computer Based Systems (ECBS); 10 pages, 9 figure

The AGN and Gas Disk in the Low Surface Brightness Galaxy PGC045080

We present radio observations and optical spectroscopy of the giant low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy PGC 045080 (or 1300+0144). PGC 045080 is a moderately distant galaxy having a highly inclined optical disk and massive HI gas content. Radio continuum observations of the galaxy were carried out at 320 MHz, 610 MHz and 1.4 GHz. Continuum emission was detected and mapped in the galaxy. The emission appears extended over the inner disk at all three frequencies. At 1.4 GHz and 610 MHz it appears to have two distinct lobes. We also did optical spectroscopy of the galaxy nucleus; the spectrum did not show any strong emission lines associated with AGN activity but the presence of a weak AGN cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, comparison of the H$\alpha$ flux and radio continuum at 1.4 GHz suggests that a significant fraction of the emission is non-thermal in nature. Hence we conclude that a weak or hidden AGN may be present in PGC 045080. The extended radio emission represents lobes/jets from the AGN. These observations show that although LSB galaxies are metal poor and have very little star formation, their centers can host significant AGN activity. We also mapped the HI gas disk and velocity field in PGC 045080. The HI disk extends well beyond the optical disk and appears warped. In the HI intensity maps, the disk appears distinctly lopsided. The velocity field is disturbed on the lopsided side of the disk but is fairly uniform in the other half. We derived the HI rotation curve for the galaxy from the velocity field. The rotation curve has a flat rotation speed of ~ 190 km/s.Comment: Paper contains 14 figures and 4 tables. Figures 8, 10 (color) and 13 supplied separately. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Current Trends in Usage of Traditional System of Medicine in Tamilnadu, India - From the Perspective of Occupation

Socio-economic parameters have significant impact on consumer’s attitude towards the usage of traditional system of medicine in Tamilnadu, India. Though traditional systems of medicine have made significant contributions towards fulfilling healthcare needs of the people in the past, impacts of modern medicine have been so large that traditional medicine witnessed a dark period in India. While such practices are common in the rural/ remote areas, off late, change in the trend with respect to the usage of Siddha medicine as complementary alternative therapy among urban population has been observed. Present study aims to evaluate the resurgence of interest in Siddha medicine among the people working in different sectors (occupation) in Tamilnadu, India

In Vitro Antibacterial Prospective of Crude Leaf Extracts of Melia azedarach Linn. against Selected Bacterial Strains

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the crude leaf extracts of Melia azedarach against selected Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. Five plant extracts (Methanol, Ethanol, Dichloromethane, Ethyl acetate and Aqueous) under five different concentrations (1mg/ml and 5mg/ml) were tested by Disk diffusion method. Methanol, Ethyl acetate and Aqueous extracts of M. azedarach showed significant inhibition against bacteria tested

Radio Continuum and HI study of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies

The multifrequency radio continuum and 21cm HI observations of five blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies, Mrk 104, Mrk 108, Mrk 1039, Mrk 1069 and I Zw 97 using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) are presented here. Radio continuum emission at 610 MHz and 325 MHz is detected from all the observed galaxies whereas only a few are detected at 240 MHz. In our sample, three galaxies are members of groups and two galaxies (Mrk 1069 and I Zw 97) are isolated galaxies. The radio emission from Mrk 104 and Mrk 108 is seen to encompass the entire optical galaxy whereas the radio emission from Mrk 1039, Mrk 1069, I Zw 97 is confined to massive HII regions. This, we suggest, indicates that the star formation in the latter group of galaxies has recently been triggered and that the environment in which the galaxy is evolving plays a role. Star formation rates (SFR) calculated from 610 MHz emission is in the range 0.01-0.1 M_sun/yr; this is similar to the SFR obtained for individual star forming regions in BCDs. The integrated radio spectra of four galaxies are modelled over the frequency range where data is available. We find that two of the galaxies Mrk 1069 and Mrk 1039, show a turnover at low frequencies which is well fitted by free-free absorption whereas the other two galaxies, Mrk 104 and Mrk 108, show a power law at the lowest GMRT frequencies. The flatter spectrum, localized star formation and radio continuum in isolated galaxies lend support to stochastic self-propagating star formation (SSPSF). The HI observations of four galaxies Mrk 104, Mrk 108, Mrk 1039 and Mrk 1069 show extended disks as large as ~1.1-6 times the optical size. All the observed BCDs (except Mrk 104) show rotating disk with a half power width of ~50-124 km/s. Solid body rotation is common in our sample. We note that the tidal dwarf (TD) origin is possible for two of the BCDs in our sample.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures, 38 sub-figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Consumer Behavior in Selection of Buying Source of Siddha Medicine in Tamilnadu, India from the Perspective of Age

With the increasing usage of traditional medicines as complementary alternative therapy, possibilities that would ensure its successful integration into the public domain of health care services needs to be evaluated. India is one of the countries with rich traditional knowledge base. Its ethnic ethno-medical practices had paved way for the evolution of several indigenous systems of medicine. Siddha is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. Siddha holds close association with nature and has been validated in the laboratory of life, even before the advent of formal modern western system of medicine. This paper discusses the interrelations between usage of Sidhha as complementary alternative medicine and its implications on public health care related issues. We explore the impact of age of respondents in the public domain as a criterion in relation to selection of buying source of Siddha medicine in Tamilnadu, India