IDENTIFYING CORE COMPONENTS IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

As large software systems are highly complex, they can be difficult for a developer to understand. If a core subset of a software system could be extracted which contains the most important classes and connections of the larger system, studying this core would be useful for efficiently understanding the overall system. In this research we examine research into core/periphery structures in networks, primarily focusing on the use of k-core decomposition. The extracted dependencies of three open source Java software systems provide the inputs, with forty different versions of these systems analyzed in total. We derive inter-class dependencies from these releases and represent them as undirected graphs. We extract the k-core values by recursively pruning the least connected nodes within the networks, leaving an inner core. The resulting coreness values are analyzed against centrality metrics and high-level communities detected by the Louvain method. Both system level and component level evolution of coreness values for these systems are studied. The validity of this approach for identifying software system cores is discussed and analyzed

Avian Diversity, Abundance, and Nest Success among Managed Prairies and Agricultural Plots in Oklahoma and Texas

Over the last 50 years, grassland birds experienced rapid declines due to habitat loss and degradation as a result of agricultural practices. Our objective was to document the diversity, abundance, and nest success of bird communities using managed prairie and agricultural plots at the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southern Oklahoma and Hagerman NWR in northern Texas. From April 1 to July 15, 2013–2014, point count surveys, nest searches, nest monitoring, and vegetation sampling were conducted among three habitat treatments: managed prairie, unharvested wheat, and fallow agricultural plots. Species richness values for potential nesting species were higher in managed prairies at both refuges, whereas species abundance rates varied among treatments. Nest success rates were low at both refuges due to nest abandonment and predators. Due to vegetation diversity, species were more likely to nest in managed prairies compared to agricultural plots with more homogenous vegetation at both refuges. Managed prairies at both refuges were relatively small and fragmented resulting in edge effects, such as increased nest predation and brood parasitism. We recommend increasing the area of managed prairies to provide more habitat for bird species at both refuges

Struvite crystallization

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing phosphorus from phosphorus containing waste. In one embodiment, the method is preferably carried out by contacting the phosphorus containing waste with a non-cellular membrane and precipitating phosphorus from the waste as struvite. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of removing phosphorus from phosphorus containing sewage comprising filtrates and biosolids. The removal of phosphorus as struvite occurs in two stages as primary and secondary removal. In the primary removal process, the sewage from a dewatering unit is contacted with a first polymeric membrane reactor and the phosphorus is removed as primary struvite. Subsequently Mg is added so as promote struvite formation and the secondary removal process of struvite. In the secondary removal process, the sewage from GBT Filtrate well or Centrifuge Liquor well is contacted with a second monomolecular membrane and the phosphorus is removed as secondary struvite

A disrupted circumstellar torus inside eta Carinae's Homunculus Nebula

We present thermal infrared images of the bipolar nebula surrounding eta Carinae at six wavelengths from 4.8 to 24.5 microns. These were obtained with the MIRAC3 camera system at the Magellan Observatory. Our images reveal new intricate structure in the bright core of the nebula, allowing us to re-evaluate interpretations of morphology seen in images with lower resolution. Complex structures in the core might not arise from a pair of overlapping rings or a cool (110 K) and very massive dust torus, as has been suggested recently. Instead, it seems more likely that the arcs and compact knots comprise a warm (350 K) disrupted torus at the intersection of the larger polar lobes. Some of the arcs appear to break out of the inner core region, and may be associated with equatorial features seen in optical images. The torus could have been disrupted by a post-eruption stellar wind, or by ejecta from the Great Eruption itself if the torus existed before that event. Kinematic data are required to rule out either possibility.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures (Fig. 1 in color); to appear in ApJ Letter

Exploring Digital Social Norms Nudges in E-Grocery: Typical Consumer Testimonials with a Warm Glow

Digitization offers several possibilities to alter consumer decisions to support social concerns. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of personalized digital social norm nudges on consumer decisions enriched with the theory of warm glow on e-grocery buying decisions with the aim of supporting social projects. Specific pro-social behaviors targeted were supporting fair payment of the producers of grocery goods, social inclusion projects and initiatives against poverty by deciding for a specific choice option. A between-subjects experiment was performed with the help of a questionnaire using a mock-up mobile grocery store to measure product choices. Results showed that claims supporting pro-social initiatives have a significant impact on buying decisions. Perceived product recommendation influenced our model positively, while we had a negative price impact. The study suggests that warm glow theory and enriched social norm nudges are effective tools for behavior change towards social initiatives