Defect prediction with bad smells in code

Background: Defect prediction in software can be highly beneficial for development projects, when prediction is highly effective and defect-prone areas are predicted correctly. One of the key elements to gain effective software defect prediction is proper selection of metrics used for dataset preparation. Objective: The purpose of this research is to verify, whether code smells metrics, collected using Microsoft CodeAnalysis tool, added to basic metric set, can improve defect prediction in industrial software development project. Results: We verified, if dataset extension by the code smells sourced metrics, change the effectiveness of the defect prediction by comparing prediction results for datasets with and without code smells-oriented metrics. In a result, we observed only small improvement of effectiveness of defect prediction when dataset extended with bad smells metrics was used: average accuracy value increased by 0.0091 and stayed within the margin of error. However, when only use of code smells based metrics were used for prediction (without basic set of metrics), such process resulted with surprisingly high accuracy (0.8249) and F-measure (0.8286) results. We also elaborated data anomalies and problems we observed when two different metric sources were used to prepare one, consistent set of data. Conclusion: Extending the dataset by the code smells sourced metric does not significantly improve the prediction effectiveness. Achieved result did not compensate effort needed to collect additional metrics. However, we observed that defect prediction based on the code smells only is still highly effective and can be used especially where other metrics hardly be used.Comment: Chapter 10 in Software Engineering: Improving Practice through Research (B. Hnatkowska and M. \'Smia{\l}ek, eds.), pp. 163-176, 201

Delivery of an anti-HIV-1 ribozyme into HIV-infected cells via cationic liposomes

Cationic liposome-mediated intracellular delivery of a fluorescein-labeled chimeric DNA-RNA ribozyme targeted to the HIV-1 5\u27 LTR was investigated, using THP-1, THP-1/HIV-1(IIIB) or HeLa/LAV cells. Different fluorescence patterns were observed when the cells were exposed to Lipofectamine, Lipofectin or DMRIE:DOPE (1:1) complexed to the ribozyme. With Lipofectamine intense cell-associated fluorescence was found. Incubation with Lipofectin resulted in less intense diffuse fluorescence, while with DMRIE an intense but sporadic fluorescence was observed. Differentiated THP-1/HIV-1(IIIB) cells were more susceptible to killing by liposome-ribozyme complexes than THP-1 cells. Under non-cytotoxic conditions (a 4-h treatment) complexes of 5, 10 or 15 μM Lipofectin or DOTAP:DOPE (1:1) and ribozyme, at lipid:ribozyme ratios of 8:1 or 4:1, did not affect p24 production in THP-1/HIV-1(IIIB) cells in spite of the intracellular accumulation of the ribozyme. A 24-h exposure of THP-1/HIV-1(IIIB) cells to 5 μM Lipofectin or DOTAP:DOPE (1:1) complexed with either the functional or a modified control ribozyme reduced virus production by approximately 30%. Thus, the antiviral effect of the liposome-complexed ribozyme was not sequence-specific. In contrast, the free ribozyme at a relatively high concentration inhibited virus production by 30%, while the control ribozyme was ineffective, indicating a sequence-specific effect. Both Lipofectin and DOTAP complexed with ribozyme were toxic at 10 and 15 μM after a 24-h treatment. A 4-h treatment of HeLa/LAV cells with Lipofectin at 5, 10 or 15 μM was not toxic to the cells, but also did not inhibit p24 production. In contrast, treatment of HeLa CD4+ cells immediately after infection with HIV-1(IIIB) at the same lipid concentrations and lipid:ribozyme ratios was cytotoxic. Our results indicate that the delivery of functional ribozyme into cells by cationic liposomes is an inefficient process and needs extensive improvement before it can be used in ex vivo and in vivo applications. Copyright (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V

Significance of congestive heart failure as a cause of pleural effusion: Pilot data from a large multidisciplinary teaching hospital

Background: Epidemiological data on the causes of pleural effusion (PE) are scarce. Data on the local prevalence of various causes of PE may play a crucial role in the management strategy of patients with PE. The aim of the study was to investigate the causes of PE and to assess 30-day mortality rate in unselected adult patients treated in a large, multidisciplinary hospital. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records, including chest radiographs, of 2835 consecutive patients admitted to the hospital was performed. Radiograhic signs of PE were found in 195 of 1936 patients in whom chest radigraphs were available. These patients formed the study group. Results: The leading causes of PE were as follows: congestive heart failure (CHF; 37.4%), pneumonia (19.5%), malignancy (15.4%), liver cirrhosis (4.2%) and pulmonary embolism. The cause of PE in 6.7% patients was not established. There was a significant predominance of small volume PE as compared to a moderate or large volume PEs (153, 28 and 14 patients, respectively). Almost 80% of patients with CHF presented with small volume PE, while almost 50% of patients with malignant PE demonstrated moderate or large volume PE. Thirty-day mortality rate ranged from 0% for tuberculous pleurisy to 40% for malignant PE (MPE). Conclusions: Pleural effusion was found in 10.1% of patients treated in a large multidisciplinary hospital. CHF was the leading cause of PE. Although 30-day mortality in patients with CHF was rela­tively high, it was lower than that in parapneumonic PE and MPE

Clinical applications of perfusion computed tomography, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in detection of early lesions in ischemic stroke

Metody obrazowania ośrodkowego układu nerwowego (OUN), a w szczególności tomografia komputerowa (CT, computed tomography) i rezonans magnetyczny (MR, magnetic resonace) ostatnio bardzo intensywnie się rozwinęły. Takie techniki, jak badanie perfuzyjne CT, MR oraz obrazowanie dyfuzyjne MR, dają zupełnie nowe możliwości w diagnostyce zmian niedokrwiennych mózgu. Te sposoby badania pozwalają uwidocznić ogniska udarów niedokrwiennych w ich najwcześniejszej fazie oraz określić stosunek wielkości strefy zawału i penumbry, co jest cenną informacją w kwalifikacji pacjentów do ewentualnego leczenia trombolitycznego. Celem niniejszej pracy jest przybliżenie możliwości zastosowania nowoczesnych technik diagnostyki we wczesnym okresie udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu.In recent years there has been a rapid development of new imaging methods of central nervous system, based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Such techniques as CT and MR perfusion as well as diffusion MR create new possibilities in diagnostics of cerebral ischemia. These methods enable to visualize ichemic foci in the very early stage of stroke. Moreover they allow to define the extent of infarction and penumbra areas, which is very important in selecting the candidates for thrombolytic treatment. The aim of this paper is to discuss application of new imaging methods in early stage of ischemic stroke

Wartość obrazowania dyfuzyjnego MR za pomocą aparatu niskopolowego w ostrym okresie udaru niedokrwiennego mózgowia

Background: Early detection of ischemic changes in the brain is significant for prompt initiation of suitable, especially thrombolytic, treatment. Until recently, the essential diagnostic method was computerized tomography (CT), despite its limited value in detecting and assessing ischemic area extent. CT perfusion, magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion, and diffusion MR (DWI, diffusion weighted imaging) are currently considered the most sensitive methods. Until recently, DWI was available only in modern, high-field MR units (1.5-3 Tesla). The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of low-field DWI performed with a modern low-field MR system (with appropriate software) in patients with early ischemic stroke. Material/Methods: Forty patients with clinically diagnosed ischemic stroke were examined 1-12 hours after onset of symptoms. In all patients, non-contrast CT followed by DWI was performed. The time between both studies did not exceed 30 minutes. After 2 weeks, follow-up MR (FLAIR, T2 and Tl-weighted images) was performed in 36 patients. Results: Foci of increased signal intensity, localized in the cerebral hemispheres and posterior fossa, were detected on the DWI images of 30 patients. Follow-up MR studies confirmed ischemic lesions in 24 cases. Among the 10 patients in whom ischemic changes had not been diagnosed in DWI examination, the follow-up MR revealed such in 4 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DWI were calculated as 87.5%, 50% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions: DWI examination with a low-field MR system enables efficient detection of brain lesions in the early stage of ischemic stroke

ARTICULATED ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT STABILITY SIMULATIONS BASED ON 34 WHEEL LOADER

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20-letnia pacjentka z mnogimi powikłaniami zakrzepowo-zatorowymi

We report a case of young female with remittent bilateral pulmonary embolism and thrombus in the right ventricle, who required highly specialized treatment. The coexistence of right heart thrombus with pulmonary thromboembolism is uncommon; however, significantly worsens patients prognosis. Treatment is still controversial.Przedstawiono przypadek młodej kobiety z nawracającą obustronną zatorowością płucną i skrzepliną w prawej komorze serca, która wymagała wysokospecjalistycznego leczenia. Współistnienie skrzepliny w prawym sercu i ostrej zatorowości płucnej jest rzadkością, jednak istotnie pogarsza rokowanie pacjentów. Leczenie nadal budzi kontrowersje