Empirical Investigation on Agile Methods Usage: Issues Identified from Early Adopters in Malaysia

Agile Methods are a set of software practices that can help to produce products faster and at the same time deliver what customers want. Despite the benefits that Agile methods can deliver, however, we found few studies from the Southeast Asia region, particularly Malaysia. As a result, less empirical evidence can be obtained in the country making its implementation harder. To use a new method, experience from other practitioners is critical, which describes what is important, what is possible and what is not possible concerning Agile. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the issues faced by early adopters in Malaysia where Agile methods are still relatively new. The initial study involves 13 participants including project managers, CEOs, founders and software developers from seven organisations. Our study has shown that social and human aspects are important when using Agile methods. While technical aspects have always been considered to exist in software development, we found these factors to be less important when using Agile methods. The results obtained can serve as guidelines to practitioners in the country and the neighbouring regions

A simplified model of aerosol coagulation

Change with time of the particle size distribution in a dispersed medium due to coagulation is described by a highly nonlinear integro differential equation. A previous simplified model accounted for this evolution but neglected to give either a clear derivation of the model or a statement of the assumptions therein implied. Filling these gaps is a first goal of this presentation. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the accuracy of this simplified model is presented. A series of typical coagulation computations is chosen including Brownian and gravitational coagulation kernels. The results are compared with the predictions of the simple model.Anglai

Photomicrographic analysis of a spray: determination of droplet size and velocity spectra by means of Diamant's rotating mirror microscope

A new application of the rotating mirror microscope described by Diamant (1960) for the study of sprays is presented. The theoretical picture of a spherical droplet moving in the focal plane at a velocity different from that of synchronism with the rotating mirror is predicted. This study makes it possible to infer from the photograph not only a local droplet size spectrum but also local droplet velocity distributions.Anglai

Cirurgia bariátrica: repercussões na vida laboral do obeso

Pesquisa descritivo-exploratória que objetivou conhecer as repercussões da cirurgia bariátrica na vida laboral do obeso grau III, com pacientes submetidos à gastroplastia em Y de Roux. A coleta de dados foi realizada de junho a julho de 2011, por meio de entrevista individual, originando três Discursos do Sujeito Coletivo: “Mais disposição para o trabalho”, “A vida sem comorbidades” e “Outras repercussões da cirurgia bariátrica”. Foram incluídos 30 pacientes com média de idade 44±12 anos, sendo 24 (80%) do sexo feminino, 19 (63%) que trabalhavam, 10 (34%) que não trabalhavam, um (3,3%) estudante, 23 (96%) hipertensos e oito (33%) com diagnóstico de Diabetes Mellitus. Constatou-se, também, que 13 (43%) tinham dificuldades no aspecto físico e que 21 (70%) as tinham no aspecto emocional. A cirurgia bariátrica repercutiu favoravelmente na vida laboral do obeso, uma vez que houve redução das comorbidades e das dificuldades físicas e emocionais, favorecendo a reinserção social e profissional do indivíduo