Using a Combination of Measurement Tools to Extract Metrics from Open Source Projects

Software measurement can play a major role in ensuring the quality and reliability of software products. The measurement activities require appropriate tools to collect relevant metric data. Currently, there are several such tools available for software measurement. The main objective of this paper is to provide some guidelines in using a combination of multiple measurement tools especially for products built using object-oriented techniques and languages. In this paper, we highlight three tools for collecting metric data, in our case from several Java-based open source projects. Our research is currently based on the work of Card and Glass, who argue that design complexity measures (data complexity and structural complexity) are indicators/predictors of procedural/cyclomatic complexity (decision counts) and errors (discovered from system tests). Their work was centered on structured design and our work is with object-oriented designs and the metrics we use parallel those of Card and Glass, being, Henry and Kafura's Information Flow Metrics, McCabe's Cyclomatic Complexity, and Chidamber and Kemerer Object-oriented Metrics

The thermal differential scattering of some important weakly anisotropic molecules

An in-plane molecular beam apparatus, which has previously been used for high resolution spectroscopic experiments employing bolometric detection, is modified for the measurement of total differential scattering cross sections. The same method of detection is employed in the scattering experiments whilst translational characteristics of molecules within the primary and secondary beams are determined by means of time of flight techniques using mass spectrometric detection. The performance of the apparatus for scattering experiments is established by comparing results with previously reported scattering measurements for the He+Ar system. The molecular beam apparatus is used to obtain information sensitive enough for determining more accurately the potential surfaces of some important, weakly anisotropic, molecular interactions, namely He+HF, Ne+HF and CH₄+CH₄. These systems are of considerable theoretical interest and are of paramount importance with respect to the development of a universal potential model for anisotropic systems in general. Further fruitful theoretical effort is considered to be possible only with the aid of accurate scattering data. Previous experimental information for these systems is either non-existent or simply insufficient for the purposes of accurate determination of the potential surface. The data presented in this work provides enough detail for accurate prediction of the isotropic component of the potentials for each system studied

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Analysis, Specification and Modeling of Functional Requirement for Translative Model-Driven Development

Conceptual models play an important role within model-driven development (MDD) and become the main artifacts of software development. Developing conceptual model, however, is not a trivial task. There is no clear, direct way to transform requirements into conceptual models. Few methods have been offered aiding developers to develop conceptual models. Yet, those methods do not fully address the specific need for software development using a translative approach of MDD such as concern-oriented model-driven development (COMDD) where the conceptual model for each concern must be separated. This paper proposes a method to analyze, specify, and develop conceptual models of functional requirements (FRs) especially in the context of translative model-driven development. Our method employs a uses-case approach for FRs analysis accompanied with scenario-based approach for the specification. Executable and translatable UML is used as the modeling notation due to the translative nature of COMDD framework. We show the viability of our method using a real-life case study: Voter Tracking System, a system to mark voters using handheld electronic devices

Concern-Oriented Model-Driven Development Framework

Developing complex software systems which involve a lot of different non-orthogonal concerns requires considerable effort. This situation can be further exacerbated by tangled and scattered concerns found across the system. In order to reduce this sort of complexity, we need to employ a software development framework that facilitates the separation of different concerns. The framework should be able to direct the process of identification, modularization and specification of concerns into autonomous parts and eventually (re)compose them to yield a complete system. In this paper, we propose a software development framework which integrates the concept of a concern-oriented approach with model-driven development This framework promotes separation of concerns both horizontal (separating concerns based on subject matters) and vertical (separating concerns based on level of abstraction)

Software Architecture Modeling Method in Recursive Design

This paper proposes a method to model the architecture within an object-oriented analysis and recursive design method. The modeling of the architectural domain is based on the Object-Oriented Analysis and Recursive Design methodology as introduced by Shlaer and Mellor. We propose seven steps to model the architectural domain, i.e., select a style and pattern for the architecture, define structural elements and rules, specify data structures, specify structural units, specify mechanisms to support state models and timers, build the architectural model, and derive mapping and archetype. This paper also shows the difference between the use of general purpose and specific design languages for architectural description in recursive design

The five factors influencing software architecture modeling and evaluation techniques

Two of the most important aspects that help architects to describe, automate, and evaluate architecture artefacts with precision include the use of Software Architecture (SA) modeling languages, and the selection of SA evaluation methods. Accurate, verifiable architecture descriptions are more likely to result in successful software development outcomes. There appears to be an unnatural and significant disconnect between SA artefacts and both pre and post-Architecture development artefacts. The disconnect seems to exist for various, sometimes unrelated, reasons not all of which have yet been fully investigated. In an effort to confirm (some of) the factors that influence effective utilisation of software/system architecture artefacts in the process of software/system development, the author(s) of this paper try to address the aforementioned problem by focusing on the investigation of five factors that influence SA evaluation and its automation process. These factors include: Formality of SA descriptions; modelling of SA; SA documentation; standardisation of SA; and current SA evaluation tools. Contributing to the identification of these five influential factors, and their discussion, is a section of a questionnaire which was broadly aimed at discussing matters relating to software/system architecture descriptions and evaluation in industry