An Empirical Study of a Software Maintenance Process

This paper describes how a process support tool is used to collect metrics about a major upgrade to our own electronic retail system. An incremental prototyping lifecycle is adopted in which each increment is categorised by an effort type and a project component. Effort types are Acquire, Build, Comprehend and Design and span all phases of development. Project components include data models and process models expressed in an OO modelling language and process algebra respectively as well as C++ classes and function templates and build components including source files and data files. This categorisation is independent of incremental prototyping and equally applicable to other software lifecycles. The process support tool (PWI) is responsible for ensuring the consistency between the models and the C++ source. It also supports the interaction between multiple developers and multiple metric-collectors. The first two releases of the retailing software are available for ftp from oracle.ecs.soton.ac.uk in directory pub/peter. Readers are invited to use the software and apply their own metrics as appropriate. We would be interested to correspond with anyone who does so

Emerging Technologies Challenging Current Legal Paradigms

U.S. patent law has made assumptions about where new inventions will be created, who will create them, and how they will be infringed. Throughout history, emerging technologies have challenged these paradigms. This decade’s emerging technologies will allow humans to create in virtual worlds, connect billions of every day devices via the Internet, and use artificial intelligence to invent across technology fields. If countries like the U.S. wish to encourage inventors to seek patent protection in these emerging areas, then a paradigm shift in the law must occur. Specifically, the law must clarify patent eligibility, recognize the increasing role of artificial intelligence in inventing, and continue to develop the doctrinal framework for enforcing interactive patents

Studies of interstellar matter on scales from 10AU to 10 kpc

This thesis presents four optical spectroscopic studies of absorption by matter in the diffuse interstellar medium on scales ranging from 10 AU to 10 kpc. The observations investigate two current problems in interstellar medium (ISM) research: small-scale structure (SSS), and the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). Very high spectral resolution observations of interstellar Na I, Ca I, Ca II, K I and CH absorption towards kappa Vel are presented. Combined with observations over the last 15 years taken from the literature, the small-scale structure in front of this star is probed on scales of ~ 10 AU. The high resolution and signal-to-noise of the new observations allow detailed modelling of the absorption profiles and the identification of multiple absorption components. For the two narrowest components, the line profile models are used to constrain the temperature, depletion, electron density and total number density within the structures. Diffuse interstellar bands are used as probes of SSS in long-slit observations of lines-of-sight towards three binary/multiple star systems: HD 168075/6, HD 176269/70 and four members of the mu Sgr system, one of which is identified as a member for the first time. The results show clear variations in DIB absorption in the HD 168075/6 and mu Sgr systems over scales of ~ 50,000-200,000 AU, and demonstrate the efficacy of medium-resolution observations of DIBs for identification of small-scale structure in the ISM. Multi-object spectroscopy of 452 stars in the omega Cen globular cluster is also presented, which probes interstellar absorption by Na I, Ca II and DIBs in two dimensions, on scales of ~ 1 pc. The first detections of diffuse interstellar bands in the M33 galaxy are reported. Multi-object spectroscopy of 43 stars is used to derive spectral types and reddenings, and measure DIB absorption across the disk of the galaxy (~ 10 kpc). Very strong DIB absorption per unit E(B-V) is found for one star in the sample, towards which a total of seven DIBs are detected

A survey of diffuse interstellar bands in the Andromeda galaxy: optical spectroscopy of M31 OB stars

We present the largest sample to-date of intermediate-resolution blue-to-red optical spectra of B-type supergiants in M31 and undertake the first survey of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in this galaxy. Spectral classifications, radial velocities and interstellar reddenings are presented for 34 stars in three regions of M31. Radial velocities and equivalent widths are given for the 5780 and 6283 DIBs towards 11 stars. Equivalent widths are also presented for the following DIBs detected in three sightlines in M31: 4428, 5705, 5780, 5797, 6203, 6269, 6283, 6379, 6613, 6660, and 6993. All of these M31 DIB carriers reside in clouds at radial velocities matching those of interstellar Na I and/or H I. The relationships between DIB equivalent widths and reddening (E(B-V)) are consistent with those observed in the local ISM of the Milky Way. Many of the observed sightlines show DIB strengths (per unit reddening) which lie at the upper end of the range of Galactic values. DIB strengths per unit reddening are found (with 68% confidence), to correlate with the interstellar UV radiation field strength. The strongest DIBs are observed where the interstellar UV flux is lowest. The mean Spitzer 8/24 micron emission ratio in our three fields is slightly lower than that measured in the Milky Way, but we identify no correlation between this ratio and the DIB strengths in M31. Interstellar oxygen abundances derived from the spectra of three M31 H II regions in one of the fields indicate that the average metallicity of the ISM in that region is 12 + log[O/H] = 8.54 +- 0.18, which is approximately equal to the value in the solar neighbourhood

Studies of interstellar matter on scales from 10AU to 10 kpc

This thesis presents four optical spectroscopic studies of absorption by matter in the diffuse interstellar medium on scales ranging from 10 AU to 10 kpc. The observations investigate two current problems in interstellar medium (ISM) research: small-scale structure (SSS), and the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). Very high spectral resolution observations of interstellar Na I, Ca I, Ca II, K I and CH absorption towards kappa Vel are presented. Combined with observations over the last 15 years taken from the literature, the small-scale structure in front of this star is probed on scales of ~ 10 AU. The high resolution and signal-to-noise of the new observations allow detailed modelling of the absorption profiles and the identification of multiple absorption components. For the two narrowest components, the line profile models are used to constrain the temperature, depletion, electron density and total number density within the structures. Diffuse interstellar bands are used as probes of SSS in long-slit observations of lines-of-sight towards three binary/multiple star systems: HD 168075/6, HD 176269/70 and four members of the mu Sgr system, one of which is identified as a member for the first time. The results show clear variations in DIB absorption in the HD 168075/6 and mu Sgr systems over scales of ~ 50,000-200,000 AU, and demonstrate the efficacy of medium-resolution observations of DIBs for identification of small-scale structure in the ISM. Multi-object spectroscopy of 452 stars in the omega Cen globular cluster is also presented, which probes interstellar absorption by Na I, Ca II and DIBs in two dimensions, on scales of ~ 1 pc. The first detections of diffuse interstellar bands in the M33 galaxy are reported. Multi-object spectroscopy of 43 stars is used to derive spectral types and reddenings, and measure DIB absorption across the disk of the galaxy (~ 10 kpc). Very strong DIB absorption per unit E(B-V) is found for one star in the sample, towards which a total of seven DIBs are detected

Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - V. Time-variable interstellar absorption

The structure and properties of the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) on small scales, sub-au to 1 pc, are poorly understood. We compare interstellar absorption-lines, observed towards a selection of O- and B-type stars at two or more epochs, to search for variations over time caused by the transverse motion of each star combined with changes in the structure in the foreground ISM. Two sets of data were used: 83 VLT- UVES spectra with approximately 6 yr between epochs and 21 McDonald observatory 2.7m telescope echelle spectra with 6 - 20 yr between epochs, over a range of scales from 0 - 360 au. The interstellar absorption-lines observed at the two epochs were subtracted and searched for any residuals due to changes in the foreground ISM. Of the 104 sightlines investigated with typically five or more components in Na I D, possible temporal variation was identified in five UVES spectra (six components), in Ca II, Ca I and/or Na I absorption-lines. The variations detected range from 7\% to a factor of 3.6 in column density. No variation was found in any other interstellar species. Most sightlines show no variation, with 3{\sigma} upper limits to changes of the order 0.1 - 0.3 dex in Ca II and Na I. These variations observed imply that fine-scale structure is present in the ISM, but at the resolution available in this study, is not very common at visible wavelengths. A determination of the electron densities and lower limits to the total number density of a sample of the sightlines implies that there is no striking difference between these parameters in sightlines with, and sightlines without, varying components.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Fluctuating awareness of treatment goals amongst patients and their caregivers: a longitudinal study of a dynamic process

Background: Because increasing numbers of people now survive for months or years with advanced cancer, communication between patients, service providers, and family caregivers often continues over long periods. Hence, understanding of the goals of medical treatment may develop and change as time elapses and disease progresses. This understanding is closely related to the "awareness of dying," which has been studied in both qualitative and quantitative research. However, when both a patient and family caregiver are involved, the question of "awareness" becomes more complex. A recent longitudinal study reported on patient and caregiver knowledge of treatment goals, but no comparison of such knowledge using matched interview schedules and paired data analysis has been provided. This report examines patterns of awareness and factors associated with these patterns. Materials and methods: One hundred sixty-three patients with incurable cancer and their nominated principal family caregivers (136) were recruited from The Canberra Hospital Oncology Services. Participants' understanding of the treatment goals were measured by interview questions at weeks 1 and 12. Results: One-third of both patients and caregivers understood that the treatment goal was not curative; however, not all patient and caregiver pairs had the same understanding. In 15% of pairs, both patient and caregiver believed that the goal of treatment was curative, while another 13% said that they did not know the aim of the treatment. Thirty-nine percent of pairs registered incongruent responses in which only one member of the pair understood that the treatment was not intended to cure the disease. Over time, a few respondents changed their perception of the treatment goals toward accurate clarification. Bivariate analysis using an awareness variable, constructed for the purpose, showed that in 6 months before death, at least one person in 89% of pairs understood that the treatment was noncurative. Time-to-death, gender, and place of residence were also important predictors of knowledge. Conclusions: Discrepancies between patients and their caregivers may complicate the delivery of effective care when patients are seriously ill. Misunderstanding or uncertainty about treatment goals will obstruct proper informed consent. Health professionals providing care for families dealing with advanced cancer must recognize that the discussion of treatment goals is a dynamic process, which may require them to extend their communication skills