Can using Fagan Inspections improve the quality of specification in 2011? A Case Study

In this paper, we explore why Fagan Inspections have become obsolete in the software industry, given the body of evidence which supports their use to improve the quality of software artefacts and the software development process. Since the late 1970’s, much has been written about how Fagan Inspections improve the quality of both processes and outputs of the software development process. The literature indicates that the Fagan Inspection technique can improve quality of software (or other software development artefacts) by a reduction in defects of 60 – 90%. However, recent literature suggests that inspection techniques in general and Fagan Inspections in particular, are no longer used. A study in 1998 found that respondents used inspections either irregularly or not at all. Teams often review artefacts informally, but believe that they are performing an inspection or formal review. The lack of rigour in the review process results in reduced benefits and more defects in the artefacts. To explore this situation, we conducted a case study with a local enterprise and we report on the early findings. These suggest that the introduction of Fagan Inspections may have a number of benefits before they have even been introduced fully, including recognition of flaws in the current development process, development of technical knowledge relating to the software process domain, and improved team relations and a ‘quality’ culture. In addition, the personnel using Fagan Inspection gain experience in the production of ‘quality’ artefacts

Oscillations of the Inner Regions of Viscous Accretion Disks

Although quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) have been discovered in different X-ray sources, their origin is still a matter of debate. Analytical studies of hydrodynamic accretion disks have shown three types of trapped global modes with properties that appear to agree with the observations. However, these studies take only linear effects into account and do not address the issues of mode excitation and decay. Moreover, observations suggest that resonances between modes play a crucial role. A systematic, numerical study of this problem is therefore needed. In this paper, we use a pseudo-spectral algorithm to perform a parameter study of the inner regions of hydrodynamic disks. By assuming alpha-viscosity, we show that steady state solutions rarely exist. The inner edges of the disks oscillate and excite axisymmetric waves. In addition, the flows inside the inner edges are sometimes unstable to non-axisymmetric perturbations. One-armed, or even two-armed, spirals are developed, which provides a plausible explanation for the high-frequency QPOs observed from accreting black holes. When the Reynolds numbers are above certain critical values, the inner disks go through some transient turbulent states characterized by strong trailing spirals; while large-scale leading spirals developed in the outer disks. We compared our numerical results with standard thin disk oscillation models. Although the non-axisymmetric features have their analytical counterparts, more careful study is needed to explain the axisymmetric oscillations.Comment: 12 pages including 7 figures, submitted to ApJ, comments welcome, movies are available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ckchan/astrophysics/inne

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female anorectal dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: The terminology for anorectal dysfunction in women has long been in need of a specific clinically-based Consensus Report. METHODS: This Report combines the input of members of the Standardization and Terminology Committees of two International Organizations, the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society (ICS), assisted on Committee by experts in their fields to form a Joint IUGA/ICS Working Group on Female Anorectal Terminology. Appropriate core clinical categories and sub classifications were developed to give an alphanumeric coding to each definition. An extensive process of twenty rounds of internal and external review was developed to exhaustively examine each definition, with decision-making by collective opinion (consensus). RESULTS: A Terminology Report for anorectal dysfunction, encompassing over 130 separate definitions, has been developed. It is clinically based with the most common diagnoses defined. Clarity and user-friendliness have been key aims to make it interpretable by practitioners and trainees in all the different specialty groups involved in female pelvic floor dysfunction. Female-specific anorectal investigations and imaging (ultrasound, radiology and MRI) has been included whilst appropriate figures have been included to supplement and help clarify the text. Interval review (5-10 years) is anticipated to keep the document updated and as widely acceptable as possible. CONCLUSION: A consensus-based Terminology Report for female anorectal dysfunction terminology has been produced aimed at being a significant aid to clinical practice and a stimulus for research. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:10-34, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and The International Urogynecological Association

Layer-by-layer deposition of open-pore mesoporous TiO 2- Nafion® film electrodes

The formation of variable thickness TiO2 nanoparticle-Nafion® composite films with open pores is demonstrated via a layer-by-layer deposition process. Films of about 6 nm diameter TiO2 nanoparticles grow in the presence of Nafion® by “clustering” of nanoparticles into bigger aggregates, and the resulting hierarchical structure thickens with about 25 nm per deposition cycle. Film growth is characterized by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance techniques. Simultaneous small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements for films before and after calcination demonstrate the effect of Nafion® binder causing aggregation. Electrochemical methods are employed to characterize the electrical conductivity and diffusivity of charge through the TiO2-Nafion® composite films. Characteristic electrochemical responses are observed for cationic redox systems (diheptylviologen2+/+, Ru(NH3)3+/2+6, and ferrocenylmethyl-trimethylammonium2+/+) immobilized into the TiO2-Nafion® nanocomposite material. Charge conduction is dependent on the type of redox system and is proposed to occur either via direct conduction through the TiO2 backbone (at sufficiently negative potentials) or via redox-center-based diffusion/electron hopping (at more positive potentials)

Electrocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxide at TiO2-Au nanocomposite film electrodes

Structured films of TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles (ca. 6 nm diameter) and gold nanoparticles (nominal 20 nm diameter) are formed via a layer-by-layer deposition procedure. TiO2 nanoparticles are deposited with a Nafion polyelectrolyte binder followed by calcination to give a mesoporous thin film electrode. Gold nanoparticles are incorporated into this film employing a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) polyelectrolyte binder followed by calcination to give a stable mesoporous TiO2–gold nanocomposite. This methodology allows well-defined and structured films to be formed which are re-usable after a 500 °C heat treatment in air.Electrochemical experiments are performed in aqueous KCl and buffer solutions and for the oxidation of nitric oxide, NO, and nitrite in phosphate buffer solution. It is shown that the NO oxidation occurs as a highly effective electrocatalytically amplified process at the surface of the gold nanocomposite probably with co-evolution of oxygen, O2. In contrast, the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate occurs at the same potential but without oxygen evolution. A mechanistic scheme for the amplified NO detection process is proposed. Keywords: TiO2, Gold, Nanoparticle, Colloid, Cermet, Voltammetry, Nitric oxide, NO, Nitrite, Nitrate, Electrocatalysis, Sensor

Assembly, conductivity, and chemical reactivity of sub-monolayer gold nanoparticle junction arrays

Assemblies of gold nanoparticles (nominal 20 nm in diameter) and poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) are formed on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) and glass substrates in a layer-by-layer deposition process. Electron microscopy imaging suggests clustering and sub-monolayer formation even after multiple deposition cycles. Voltammetric characterisation of the gold-PDDAC assemblies demonstrates at low coverage a facile electron transport perpendicular to the film but essentially insulating characteristics laterally across an inter-electrode gap of gap of 40�m. However, gentle removal of the organic assembly components (PDDAC) in a room temperature UV-ozonolysis process allows the array of “clean” gold–gold junctions to become electrically conducting due to (i) random multiple tunnel junction pathways and (ii) ionic conductivity through a thin water layer. In this room temperature ozone-cleaned state, the gold assembly is considerably more electrically conducting when compared to thermally cleaned films. The crucial effect of humidity on the resistivity and capacitive currents for gold nanoparticle junction arrays is demonstrated. The gold nanoparticle films readily react with thiols and dithiols from the gas phase which results in a dramatic increase in resistivity. The process is fully reversible and the sensor re-usable after UV-ozonolysis cleaning. Measurements are reported for a range of dithiols with different carbon chain lengths demonstrating that tunnel junction effects are likely to be responsible for the electrical conductivity