Hacia una taxonomía de educación de ingeniería de software

La educación de la ingeniería de software es una disciplina relativamente nueva y es objeto de amplia investigación. La literatura sobre el área de la educación de ingeniería de software consiste más que nada en artículos publicados en revistas y conferencias especializadas. Este material no se encuentra clasificado en categorías estables ni cuenta con una terminología estándar. La importancia de organizar el conocimiento y las publicaciones que se realizan está asociada a los beneficios que se obtienen para diferentes involucrados, como son: permitir a los investigadores situar sus iniciativas en un contexto adecuado, lograr una mejor inducción a los términos y conceptos de un área temática, y además mejorar sustancialmente la acumulación de evidencia (revisiones sistemáticas de literatura y estudios de mapeo). Este trabajo pretende contribuir a la organización del conocimiento de la educación de la ingeniería de software por medio de la construcción de un vocabulario controlado sobre los términos involucrados en la disciplina. Un vocabulario controlado es un conjunto de términos previamente seleccionados y sujeto a cierto control para su modificación. Estos términos son luego utilizados para describir documentos u otros tipos de objetos de contenido. Se propone un proceso de construcción de vocabularios controlados basado en la exploración del material a clasificar del cual se realizaron dos instancias de ejecución. En una primera se utilizaron técnicas de clustering automático para analizar más de 1.000 artículos presentados en conferencias relevantes durante el período (1988-2014) y obtener una taxonomía inicial. En una segunda instancia se amplió la cantidad de términos de la categoría ’teaching approaches and methods’. El resultado es un vocabulario controlado sobre educación de ingeniería de software con forma de taxonomía cuyo nivel más alto lo componen tres facetas: ’what to teach’ (24 términos), ’how to teach’ (30 términos) y ’where to teach’ (6 términos). Los 26 términos de la categoría ’teaching approaches and methods’ de la faceta ’how to teach’ cuentan con una definición, basada en la literatura disponible, y una lista de referencias bibliográficas

Especificación de un modelo de proceso académico de desarrollo de software utilizando SPEM-EPF

En este informe se presenta el trabajo realizado en el estudio y aplicación de SPEM (Software Process Engineering Meta-Model) y EPF (Eclipse Process Framework Project) en el marco de un módulo de taller del año 2009. Se estudio el estado del arte en la especificación de modelos de proceso y se realizó una primera especificación del Modelo de Desarrollo MUM — Modelo Unificado y Medible; que corresponde a un modelo académico símil RUP, utilizado en la asignatura Proyecto de Ingeniería de Software

Training students in evidence-based software engineering and systematic reviews: a systematic review and empirical study

Context Although influential in academia, evidence-based software engineering (EBSE) has had little impact on industry practice. We found that other disciplines have identified lack of training as a significant barrier to Evidence-Based Practice. Objective To build and assess an EBSE training proposal suitable for students with more than 3 years of computer science/software engineering university-level training. Method We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) of EBSE teaching initiatives and used the SLR results to help us to develop and evaluate an EBSE training proposal. The course was based on the theory of learning outcomes and incorporated a large practical content related to performing an SLR. We ran the course with 10 students and based course evaluation on student performance and opinions of both students and teachers. We assessed knowledge of EBSE principles from the mid-term and final tests, as well as evaluating the SLRs produced by the student teams. We solicited student opinions about the course and its value via a student survey, a team survey, and a focus group. The teachers’ viewpoint was collected in a debriefing meeting. Results Our SLR identified 14 relevant primary studies. The primary studies emphasized the importance of practical examples (usually based on the SLR process) and used a variety of evaluation methods, but lacked any formal education methodology. We identified 54 learning outcomes covering aspects of EBSE and the SLR method. All 10 students passed the course. Our course evaluation showed that a large percentage of the learning outcomes established for training were accomplished. Conclusions The course proved suitable for students to understand the EBSE paradigm and to be able to apply it to a limited-scope practical assignment. Our learning outcomes, course structure, and course evaluation process should help to improve the effectiveness and comparability of future studies of EBSE training. However, future courses should increase EBSE training related to the use of SLR results

Selective involvement of serum response factor in pressure-induced myogenic tone in resistance arteries

OBJECTIVE: In resistance arteries, diameter adjustment in response to pressure changes depends on the vascular cytoskeleton integrity. Serum response factor (SRF) is a dispensable transcription factor for cellular growth, but its role remains unknown in resistance arteries. We hypothesized that SRF is required for appropriate microvascular contraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used mice in which SRF was specifically deleted in smooth muscle or endothelial cells, and their control. Myogenic tone and pharmacological contraction was determined in resistance arteries. mRNA and protein expression were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Actin polymerization was determined by confocal microscopy. Stress-activated channel activity was measured by patch clamp. Myogenic tone developing in response to pressure was dramatically decreased by SRF deletion (5.9+/-2.3%) compared with control (16.3+/-3.2%). This defect was accompanied by decreases in actin polymerization, filamin A, myosin light chain kinase and myosin light chain expression level, and stress-activated channel activity and sensitivity in response to pressure. Contractions induced by phenylephrine or U46619 were not modified, despite a higher sensitivity to p38 blockade; this highlights a compensatory pathway, allowing normal receptor-dependent contraction. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time that SRF has a major part to play in the control of local blood flow via its central role in pressure-induced myogenic tone in resistance arteries

A data science approach for exploring differential expression profiles of genes in transcriptomic studies-Application to the understanding of ageing in obese and lean rats in the FIGHT-HF project

International audienc

Potential spironolactone effects on collagen metabolism biomarkers in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: An increase in myocardial collagen content may contribute to the development of heart failure; this might be inhibited or reversed by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). We investigated changes in serum concentrations of the collagen synthesis biomarkers N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIINP) (primary outcome) and C-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PICP) (secondary outcome) after non-randomised initiation of spironolactone as add-on therapy among patients with resistant hypertension enrolled in the 'Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes' trial (ASCOT). METHODS: An age/sex matching plus propensity-scored logistic regression model incorporating variables related to the outcome and spironolactone treatment was created to compare patients treated with spironolactone for a 9-month period versus matched controls. A within-person analysis comparing changes in serum biomarker concentrations in the 9 months before versus after spironolactone treatment was also performed. RESULTS: Patients included in the between-person analysis (n=146) were well matched: the mean age was 63±7 years and 11% were woman. Serum concentrations of PIIINP and PICP rose in 'controls' and fell during spironolactone treatment (adjusted means +0.52 (-0.05 to 1.09) vs -0.41 (-0.97 to 0.16) ng/mL, p=0.031 for PIIINP and +4.54(-1.77 to 10.9) vs -6.36 (-12.5 to -0.21) ng/mL, p=0.023 for PICP). For the within-person analysis (n=173), spironolactone treatment was also associated with a reduction in PICP (beta estimate=-11.82(-17.53 to -6.10) ng/mL, p<0.001) but not in PIIINP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with spironolactone was associated with a reduction in serum biomarkers of collagen synthesis independently of blood pressure in patients with hypertension, suggesting that spironolactone might exert favourable effects on myocardial collagen synthesis and fibrosis. Whether this effect might contribute to slowing the progression to heart failure is worth investigating

Plasma protein biomarkers and their association with mutually exclusive cardiovascular phenotypes: the FIBRO‑TARGETS case–control analyses

International audienceBackground Hypertension, obesity and diabetes are major and potentially modifiable "risk factors" for cardiovascular diseases. Identification of biomarkers specific to these risk factors may help understanding the underlying pathophysiological pathways, and developing individual treatment. Methods The FIBRO-TARGETS (targeting cardiac fibrosis for heart failure treatment) consortium has merged data from 12 patient cohorts in 1 common database of > 12,000 patients. Three mutually exclusive main phenotypic groups were identified ("cases"): (1) "hypertensive"; (2) "obese"; and (3) "diabetic"; age-sex matched in a 1:2 proportion with "healthy controls" without any of these phenotypes. Proteomic associations were studied using a biostatistical method based on LASSO and confronted with machine-learning and complex network approaches. Results The case:control distribution by each cardiovascular phenotype was hypertension (50:100), obesity (50:98), and diabetes (36:72). Of the 86 studied proteins, 4 were found to be independently associated with hypertension: GDF-15, LEP, SORT-1 and FABP-2; 3 with obesity: CEACAM-8, LEP and PRELP; and 4 with diabetes: GDF-15, REN, CXCL-1 and SCF. GDF-15 (hypertension + diabetes) and LEP (hypertension + obesity) are shared by 2 different phenotypes. A machine-learning approach confirmed GDF-15, LEP and SORT-1 as discriminant biomarkers for the hypertension group, and LEP plus PRELP for the obesity group. Complex network analyses provided insight on the mechanisms underlying these disease phenotypes where fibrosis may play a central role.ConclusionPatients with “mutually exclusive” phenotypes display distinct bioprofiles that might underpin different biological pathways, potentially leading to fibrosis

Abnormal Placental Development and Early Embryonic Lethality in EpCAM-Null Mice

BACKGROUND: EpCAM (CD326) is encoded by the tacstd1 gene and expressed by a variety of normal and malignant epithelial cells and some leukocytes. Results of previous in vitro experiments suggested that EpCAM is an intercellular adhesion molecule. EpCAM has been extensively studied as a potential tumor marker and immunotherapy target, and more recent studies suggest that EpCAM expression may be characteristic of cancer stem cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To gain insights into EpCAM function in vivo, we generated EpCAM -/- mice utilizing an embryonic stem cell line with a tacstd1 allele that had been disrupted. Gene trapping resulted in a protein comprised of the N-terminus of EpCAM encoded by 2 exons of the tacstd1 gene fused in frame to betageo. EpCAM +/- mice were viable and fertile and exhibited no obvious abnormalities. Examination of EpCAM +/- embryos revealed that betageo was expressed in several epithelial structures including developing ears (otocysts), eyes, branchial arches, gut, apical ectodermal ridges, lungs, pancreas, hair follicles and others. All EpCAM -/- mice died in utero by E12.5, and were small, developmentally delayed, and displayed prominent placental abnormalities. In developing placentas, EpCAM was expressed throughout the labyrinthine layer and by spongiotrophoblasts as well. Placentas of EpCAM -/- embryos were compact, with thin labyrinthine layers lacking prominent vascularity. Parietal trophoblast giant cells were also dramatically reduced in EpCAM -/- placentas. CONCLUSION: EpCAM was required for differentiation or survival of parietal trophoblast giant cells, normal development of the placental labyrinth and establishment of a competent maternal-fetal circulation. The findings in EpCAM-reporter mice suggest involvement of this molecule in development of vital organs including the gut, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, eyes, and limbs

The effect of spironolactone on cardiovascular function and markers of fibrosis in people at increased risk of developing heart failure: the heart 'OMics' in AGEing (HOMAGE) randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: To investigate the effects of spironolactone on fibrosis and cardiac function in people at increased risk of developing heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial comparing spironolactone (50 mg/day) or control for up to 9 months in people with, or at high risk of, coronary disease and raised plasma B-type natriuretic peptides. The primary endpoint was the interaction between baseline serum galectin-3 and changes in serum procollagen type-III N-terminal pro-peptide (PIIINP) in participants assigned to spironolactone or control. Procollagen type-I C-terminal pro-peptide (PICP) and collagen type-1 C-terminal telopeptide (CITP), reflecting synthesis and degradation of type-I collagen, were also measured. In 527 participants (median age 73 years, 26% women), changes in PIIINP were similar for spironolactone and control [mean difference (mdiff): -0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.44 to 0.15 μg/L; P = 0.32] but those receiving spironolactone had greater reductions in PICP (mdiff: -8.1; 95% CI -11.9 to -4.3 μg/L; P < 0.0001) and PICP/CITP ratio (mdiff: -2.9; 95% CI -4.3 to -1.5; <0.0001). No interactions with serum galectin were observed. Systolic blood pressure (mdiff: -10; 95% CI -13 to -7 mmHg; P < 0.0001), left atrial volume (mdiff: -1; 95% CI -2 to 0 mL/m2; P = 0.010), and NT-proBNP (mdiff: -57; 95% CI -81 to -33 ng/L; P < 0.0001) were reduced in those assigned spironolactone. CONCLUSIONS: Galectin-3 did not identify greater reductions in serum concentrations of collagen biomarkers in response to spironolactone. However, spironolactone may influence type-I collagen metabolism. Whether spironolactone can delay or prevent progression to symptomatic heart failure should be investigated