Framework for software architecture visualization assessment.

In order to assess software architecture visualisation strategies, we qualitatively characterize then construct an assessment framework with 7 key areas and 31 features. The framework is used for evaluation and comparison of various strategies from multiple stakeholder perspectives. Six existing software architecture visualisation tools and a seventh research tool were evaluated. All tools exhibited shortcomings when evaluated in the framework

Untangling Fine-Grained Code Changes

After working for some time, developers commit their code changes to a version control system. When doing so, they often bundle unrelated changes (e.g., bug fix and refactoring) in a single commit, thus creating a so-called tangled commit. Sharing tangled commits is problematic because it makes review, reversion, and integration of these commits harder and historical analyses of the project less reliable. Researchers have worked at untangling existing commits, i.e., finding which part of a commit relates to which task. In this paper, we contribute to this line of work in two ways: (1) A publicly available dataset of untangled code changes, created with the help of two developers who accurately split their code changes into self contained tasks over a period of four months; (2) a novel approach, EpiceaUntangler, to help developers share untangled commits (aka. atomic commits) by using fine-grained code change information. EpiceaUntangler is based and tested on the publicly available dataset, and further evaluated by deploying it to 7 developers, who used it for 2 weeks. We recorded a median success rate of 91% and average one of 75%, in automatically creating clusters of untangled fine-grained code changes

From image to technology: a multidisciplinary approach for improving the quality of organic bread.

This study is part of a research programme devoted to improving the quality of organic bread. It aims to identify and test prototypes of breads approved by consumers. This is achieved by analysing consumer representations and preferences and placing them within the framework of technological, sensory and nutritional dimensions of the products. The multidisciplinary approach implements an original qualitative approach that combines three consumer focus groups made up of both loyal and occasional consumers, and confrontation sessions with the programme scientific partners. Four prototypes of organic breads have thus been formalised and subsequently tested on a sample of 120 consumers from two sites (Angers and Strasbourg). From an operational point of view, proposals for organic breads approved by consumers are formulated. In terms of methodology, the contributions of a multidisciplinary study are discussed

Mechanical tests and definition of new indexes of grape berry firmness. Evolution of berry skin hardness during alcoholic fermentation

The mechanical strength or firmness of a fruit is considered an important parameter to characterise its state of ripeness or conservation, as well as other parameters such as sugar level or color. The mechanical hardness of grapes influences the integrity and sanitary quality of the harvest. In this study, the mechanical characteristics of grapevine berries were studied at harvest time in order to determine their rheological properties (firmness and hardness of the berry skin) during alcoholic fermentation. Special indexes were defined measuring the energy needed to crush the berries to 50 % of their initial diameter, and applied successively to two different varieties. The entire berry firmness and the skin hardness were both different. Mechanical indexes linked to grape firmness were defined. Using these indexes, a significant effect on the firmness behavior due to variety was recorded: the skin of 'Grenache Noir' was found firmer and harder than 'Carignan Noir'. Furthermore, during the alcoholic fermentation, no change in skin hardness was observed for both varieties, despite changes in the composition of the must. These results give new information on mechanical properties of berries and could be used as an aid in the winemaking process. Indeed, they would probably help the winemaker to better choose the type of fermentation and maceration adapted to his grapes according to the type of wine he wishes to produce

Scissors resonance in the quasi-continuum of Th, Pa and U isotopes

The gamma-ray strength function in the quasi-continuum has been measured for 231-233Th, 232,233Pa and 237-239U using the Oslo method. All eight nuclei show a pronounced increase in gamma strength at omega_SR approx 2.4 MeV, which is interpreted as the low-energy M1 scissors resonance (SR). The total strength is found to be B_SR = 9-11 mu_N^2 when integrated over the 1 - 4 MeV gamma-energy region. The SR displays a double-hump structure that is theoretically not understood. Our results are compared with data from (gamma, gamma') experiments and theoretical sum-rule estimates for a nuclear rigid-body moment of inertia.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Phase detection based on a single parity check code for low SNR applications

The improvement of carrier phase synchronization through the use of channel decoding information has been recently widely studied. However, an initial synchronization step is necessary prior to the first decoding iteration. When the phase to estimate is not constant (due to frequency error or phase noise), this first step is problematic on relatively long coded words. In this paper we propose to add a short single parity-check code to the transmission scheme for the synchronization purpose. The proposed phase detector is based on the soft symbol decoding of the additional code. Our simulation results show that the proposed synchronization scheme outperforms the classical non data-aided and decision directed algorithms for continuous transmissions with 8PSK modulation, in presence of phase noise. It allows indeed to reduce the phase jitter in considerable proportions. Requiring few additional complexity, it seems well adapted to satellite continuous transmissions.De nombreuses études ont récemment montré l'avantage que l'on peut tirer du décodage canal pour l'amélioration de la synchronisation de phase porteuse à faible rapport signal à bruit. Lorsque la phase à estimer varie au cours du temps (erreur de fréquence, bruit de phase), l'estimation de la phase avant la première étape de décodage pose toutefois problème lorsque les mots de code sont longs. Nous proposons ici un algorithme de synchronisation fondé sur l'introduction d'un code de parité simple et court. Nous montrons que pour une transmission continue et une modulation MDP8, le détecteur proposé permet de réduire sensiblement la gigue de phase à très faible point de fonctionnement et en présence de bruit de phase, par rapport aux algorithmes classiques. De faible complexité, il apparait notamment bien adapté au contexte des télécommunications par satellite

Investigation of the 238U(d, p) surrogate reaction via the simultaneous measurement of γ -decay and fission probabilities

We investigated the 238U(d,p) reaction as a surrogate for the n + 238U reaction. For this purpose we measured for the first time the γ -decay and fission probabilities of 239U∗ simultaneously and compared them to the corresponding neutron-induced data. We present the details of the procedure to infer the decay probabilities, as well as a thorough uncertainty analysis, including parameter correlations. Calculations based on the continuumdiscretized coupled-channels method and the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) were used to correct our data from detected protons originating from elastic and inelastic deuteron breakup. In the region where fission and γ emission compete, the corrected fission probability is in agreement with neutron-induced data, whereas the γ -decay probability is much higher than the neutron-induced data. We have performed calculations of the decay probabilities with the statistical model and of the average angular momentum populated in the 238U(d,p) reaction with the DWBA to interpret these resultsComisión Europea 26949

Insulator-Metal Transition in One Dimension Induced by Long-Range Electronic Interactions

The effects of a long range electronic potential on a one dimensional commensurate Charge Density Wave (CDW) state are investigated. Using numerical techniques it is shown that a transition to a metallic ground state is reached as the range of the electron-electron repulsion increases. In this metallic state, the optical conductivity exhibits a large Drude weight. Possible interpretations of our results are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex, minor misprints corrected and a reference to earlier work by V. Emery and C. Noguera adde

Charge gap in the one--dimensional dimerized Hubbard model at quarter-filling

We propose a quantitative estimate of the charge gap that opens in the one-dimensional dimerized Hubbard model at quarter-filling due to dimerization, which makes the system effectively half--filled, and to repulsion, which induces umklapp scattering processes. Our estimate is expected to be valid for any value of the repulsion and of the parameter describing the dimerization. It is based on analytical results obtained in various limits (weak coupling, strong coupling, large dimerization) and on numerical results obtained by exact diagonalization of small clusters. We consider two models of dimerization: alternating hopping integrals and alternating on--site energies. The former should be appropriate for the Bechgaard salts, the latter for compounds where the stacks are made of alternating $TMTSF$ and $TMTTF$ molecules. % $(TMTSF)_2 X$ and $(TMTTF)_2 X$ ($X$ denotes $ClO_4$, $PF_6$, $Br$...).Comment: 33 pages, RevTeX 3.0, figures on reques