A Case Study on Artefact-based RE Improvement in Practice

Most requirements engineering (RE) process improvement approaches are solution-driven and activity-based. They focus on the assessment of the RE of a company against an external norm of best practices. A consequence is that practitioners often have to rely on an improvement approach that skips a profound problem analysis and that results in an RE approach that might be alien to the organisational needs. In recent years, we have developed an RE improvement approach (called \emph{ArtREPI}) that guides a holistic RE improvement against individual goals of a company putting primary attention to the quality of the artefacts. In this paper, we aim at exploring ArtREPI's benefits and limitations. We contribute an industrial evaluation of ArtREPI by relying on a case study research. Our results suggest that ArtREPI is well-suited for the establishment of an RE that reflects a specific organisational culture but to some extent at the cost of efficiency resulting from intensive discussions on a terminology that suits all involved stakeholders. Our results reveal first benefits and limitations, but we can also conclude the need of longitudinal and independent investigations for which we herewith lay the foundation

Case Studies in Industry: What We Have Learnt

Case study research has become an important research methodology for exploring phenomena in their natural contexts. Case studies have earned a distinct role in the empirical analysis of software engineering phenomena which are difficult to capture in isolation. Such phenomena often appear in the context of methods and development processes for which it is difficult to run large, controlled experiments as they usually have to reduce the scale in several respects and, hence, are detached from the reality of industrial software development. The other side of the medal is that the realistic socio-economic environments where we conduct case studies -- with real-life cases and realistic conditions -- also pose a plethora of practical challenges to planning and conducting case studies. In this experience report, we discuss such practical challenges and the lessons we learnt in conducting case studies in industry. Our goal is to help especially inexperienced researchers facing their first case studies in industry by increasing their awareness for typical obstacles they might face and practical ways to deal with those obstacles.Comment: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Conducting Empirical Studies in Industry, co-located with ICSE, 201

Naming the Pain in Requirements Engineering: A Design for a Global Family of Surveys and First Results from Germany

For many years, we have observed industry struggling in defining a high quality requirements engineering (RE) and researchers trying to understand industrial expectations and problems. Although we are investigating the discipline with a plethora of empirical studies, they still do not allow for empirical generalisations. To lay an empirical and externally valid foundation about the state of the practice in RE, we aim at a series of open and reproducible surveys that allow us to steer future research in a problem-driven manner. We designed a globally distributed family of surveys in joint collaborations with different researchers and completed the first run in Germany. The instrument is based on a theory in the form of a set of hypotheses inferred from our experiences and available studies. We test each hypothesis in our theory and identify further candidates to extend the theory by correlation and Grounded Theory analysis. In this article, we report on the design of the family of surveys, its underlying theory, and the full results obtained from Germany with participants from 58 companies. The results reveal, for example, a tendency to improve RE via internally defined qualitative methods rather than relying on normative approaches like CMMI. We also discovered various RE problems that are statistically significant in practice. For instance, we could corroborate communication flaws or moving targets as problems in practice. Our results are not yet fully representative but already give first insights into current practices and problems in RE, and they allow us to draw lessons learnt for future replications. Our results obtained from this first run in Germany make us confident that the survey design and instrument are well-suited to be replicated and, thereby, to create a generalisable empirical basis of RE in practice

On Evidence-based Risk Management in Requirements Engineering

Background: The sensitivity of Requirements Engineering (RE) to the context makes it difficult to efficiently control problems therein, thus, hampering an effective risk management devoted to allow for early corrective or even preventive measures. Problem: There is still little empirical knowledge about context-specific RE phenomena which would be necessary for an effective context- sensitive risk management in RE. Goal: We propose and validate an evidence-based approach to assess risks in RE using cross-company data about problems, causes and effects. Research Method: We use survey data from 228 companies and build a probabilistic network that supports the forecast of context-specific RE phenomena. We implement this approach using spreadsheets to support a light-weight risk assessment. Results: Our results from an initial validation in 6 companies strengthen our confidence that the approach increases the awareness for individual risk factors in RE, and the feedback further allows for disseminating our approach into practice.Comment: 20 pages, submitted to 10th Software Quality Days conference, 201

Towards Guidelines for Preventing Critical Requirements Engineering Problems

Context] Problems in Requirements Engineering (RE) can lead to serious consequences during the software development lifecycle. [Goal] The goal of this paper is to propose empirically-based guidelines that can be used by different types of organisations according to their size (small, medium or large) and process model (agile or plan-driven) to help them in preventing such problems. [Method] We analysed data from a survey on RE problems answered by 228 organisations in 10 different countries. [Results] We identified the most critical RE problems, their causes and mitigation actions, organizing this information by clusters of size and process model. Finally, we analysed the causes and mitigation actions of the critical problems of each cluster to get further insights into how to prevent them. [Conclusions] Based on our results, we suggest preliminary guidelines for preventing critical RE problems in response to context characteristics of the companies.Comment: Proceedings of the 42th Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications, 201

Técnica de Imhäuser en el pie zambo : resultados a medio y largo plazo

Se revisan un total de 60 pies con equinovaro congénito pertenecientes a 48 pacientes, todos con un seguimiento superior a 5 años. En todos los casos se realizó un tratamiento combinado: ortopédico (manipulaciones y enyesados desde el nacimiento) y quirúrgico (correcciones según el método de Imhäuser modificado). Se valoró morfológica, funcional y radiográficamente cada caso. En la valoración global sólo 1 caso fue considerado malo, 13 regulares (21,6%), 6 por pies planos valgos, 3 por pronato de antepié y 4 por adducto de antepié, y 12 buenos (20%), aunque presentaban alguna alteración morfológica o funcional mínima, y 34 excelentes (56,6%). Se concluye que: 1) la técnica de Imhäuser ofrece en este trabajo el 77% de excelentes y buenos resultados; 2) el 2.° y 3.cr se pueden resumir en uno solo, el hemitrasplante del tibial anterior, y 3) los resultados clínicos, morfológicos y funcionales son superiores a los radiográficos.—We cheked 42 patients with club-feet (60 feet), all of them with follow-up over 5 years. All the patients received a mixed treatment: orthopaedic (manipulation and plastering) and surgical (Imhäuser technique modified). We evaluated morphological, functional and radiographic parameters. In the overall evaluation only one of the cases was considered bad result; 13 (21.6%) fair results, 6 with valgus flat feet, 3 with pronatus forefoot and 4 with adductus forefoot; 12 (20%) good results, with a minimal morphologic or functional alterations; 34 (56.6%) were excellents results. Conclutions: 1) Imhäuser technic had 77% of good or excellent results in this work; 2) the second and third Imhäuser surgical times can be summarized in only one: the external hemitrasplant of the tibial anterior tendon, and 3) clinics, morphologics and functional results are better than radiographics results

Cotilos roscado y atornillado recubiertos de hidroxiapatita: estudio comparativo

Se estudian 122 cotilos recubiertos de hidroxiapatita, 45 roscados y 77 atornillados, con un seguimiento medio de 3,8 años. La valoración clínica se hizo según el protocolo de Johnston comparando el estado previo y el actual, obteniendo un 93 % de excelentes y buenos resultados en los cotilos roscados y un 83 % con los atornillados. El cotilo roscado ofreció mejores puntuaciones en las necrosis avasculares (p<0,01) y artrosis primarias (p<0,05). El resultado clínico fue mejor en la artrosis primaria que en los recambios (p<0,05) y las artropatías inflamatorias (p<0,01). No se evidenciaron aflojamientos, encontrándose como única diferencia la posición más horizontal de los implantes roscados. En el sexo masculino fue más frecuente la aparición de calcificaciones periarticulares. Se produjeron un 7% de luxaciones que se asociaron a la mayor altura del cotilo sobre la lágrima y a la menor longitud del cuello femoral por encima del trocánter menor.One hundred twenty two hidroxyapatite-coated acetabular implants, 45 threaded and 77 fixed with screws, were reviewed. The average follow-up period was 3.8 years. The results have been very encouraging, obtaining 93% of excellent and good results with threaded cups and 83 % when fixed with screws. Threaded cups had better scores for avascular necrosis (p<0.01) and primary osteoarthrosis (p<0.05). The worse results were achieved for patients with revisions and inflamatory diseases. No evidence of loosening was found. The placement of threaded cups was more horizontal. Male sex was associated with developing of heterotopic ossification. There were 7% of dislocations associated with a longes distance from the teardrop and as shorter length of the calcar from the lesser trochanter

Piezoelectric and magnetically responsive biodegradable composites with tailored porous morphology for biotechnological applications

The biomedical area in the scope of tissue regeneration pursues the development of advanced materials that can target biomimetic approaches and, ideally, have an active role in the environment they are placed in. This active role can be related to or driven by morphological, mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimuli, among others. This work reports on the development of active biomaterials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid), PHBV, a piezoelectric and biodegradable polymer, for tissue regeneration application by tailoring its morphology and functional response. PHBV films with different porosities were obtained using the solvent casting method, resorting to high-boiling-point solvents, as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and the combination of chloroform (CF) and DMF for polymer dissolution. Furthermore, magnetoelectric biomaterials were obtained through the combination of the piezoelectric PHBV with magnetostrictive iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Independently of the morphology or filler content, all biomaterials proved to be suitable for biomedical applications.This work was supported by national funds through the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and by ERDF through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) in the framework of the Strategic Programs UID/FIS/04650/2020, and project PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017. TMA thank FCT for the research grant: SFRH/BD/141136/2018, VC for the junior researcher contract (DL57/2016) and CR for the contract under the Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support (CEECIND) – 3 rd Edition (2020.04163.CEECIND). Finally, the authors acknowledge funding by Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) through the project PID2019-106099RBC43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and from the Basque Government Industry Departments under the ELKARTEK program

Active Trigger Points Are Associated With Anxiety and Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Women, but not Men, With Tension Type Headache

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of gender differences can assist clinicians in further developing therapeutic programs in tension type headache (TTH). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate gender differences in the presence of trigger points (TrPs) in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles and their relationship with headache features, pressure pain sensitivity, and anxiety in people with TTH. METHODS: Two hundred and ten (59 men, 151 women) patients with TTH participated. TrPs were bilaterally explored in the temporalis, masseter, suboccipital, upper trapezius, splenius capitis, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Headache features were collected using a 4-week headache diary. Trait and state anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the temporalis, C5/C6 joint, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior were assessed. RESULTS: Women with TTH exhibited a significantly higher number of total (P = 0.027) and active (P = 0.030), but similar number of latent (P = 0.461), TrPs than men with TTH. Active TrPs in the temporalis, suboccipital, and splenius capitis muscles were the most prevalent in both men and women with TTH. The number of active TrPs was associated with anxiety levels (r = 0.217; P = 0.045) in women, but not in men (P = 0.453): the higher the number of active TrPs, the more the trait levels of anxiety. Women exhibited lower PPTs than men (all, P < 0.001). In men, the number of active, but not latent, TrPs was negatively associated with localized PPTs (all, P < 0.05), whereas in women, the number of active and latent TrPs was negatively associated with PPTs in all points (all, P < 0.01): the higher the number of TrPs, the lower the widespread PPTs. CONCLUSIONS: This study described gender differences in the presence of TrPs in TTH. Women with TTH showed lower PPTs than men. The association between TrPs, anxiety levels, and pressure pain hyperalgesia seems to be more pronounced in women than in men with TTH