Software development methods and quality assurance: Special focus on South Korea

The purpose of this study was to explore software development methods and quality assurance practices used by South Korean software industry. Empirical data was collected by conducting a survey that focused on three main parts: software life cycle models and methods, software quality assurance including quality standards, the strengths and weaknesses of South Korean software industry. The results of the completed survey showed that the use of agile methods is slightly surpassing the use of traditional software development methods. The survey also revealed an interesting result that almost half of the South Korean companies do not use any software quality assurance plan in their projects. For the state of South Korean software industry large number of the respondents thought that despite of the weakness, the status of software development in South Korea will improve in the future.

Chart of a portion of North-West Greenland : altered according to the positions and measurements obtained by the Swedish expedition of 1870

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Relationship between Daily Habits, Oral Microbiota and Caries with Special Reference to Xylitol

Caries is a plaque-associated multifactorial chronic disease. Oral hygiene habits, sugar, and oral micobiota interactions are important for caries to occur. Xylitol has been shown to reduce caries mainly due to its effects on mutans streptococci (MS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of daily oral health habits and bacterial level on the caries occurrence and to study the effect of xylitol on the composition of oral microflora. A total of 192, 10-12 years old, male school children had been screened for salivary MS. Healthy subjects with high MS counts participated in two parallel double-blinded, randomised, controlled trials. In the first 5-week trial, subjects were assigned into xylitol (n=35) and sorbitol gum (n=38) groups. At baseline, children were examined using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria and interviewed for oral health habits. In the second 4-week trial, subjects were assigned into xylitol (n=25) and saccharine mouthrinse (n=25) groups. In the end of both interventions, saliva samples were collected. The samples were analysed for changes in MS counts and changes in the composition of the oral microbiota assessed by the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM). Relationships between daily habits, bacterial levels and caries were evaluated. Daily use of sweets and soft drinks were the habits significantly associated with caries severity measured by ICDAS Caries Index (CI), while toothbrushing was the only habit associated with the low caries severity. Abiotrophia defectiva and Actinomyces meyeri/ A. odontolyticus were significantly higher in caries-affected children while Shuttleworthia satelles was significantly higher in caries-free children. Xylitol showed significant reduction in salivary levels of MS in both trials. No significant effects on other members of the microbiota were found when evaluated by HOMIM. In conclusion, other members of oral microbiota than MS may be associated with caries occurrence or absence. The use of xylitol had significant effect on MS with no effects on the other members of the salivary microbiota.

Sedentary behaviour and health with special reference to obesity and fatty liver in early midlife. The Cardiovascular risk in Young Finns Study

Background: Physical inactivity and positive energy balance pose a risk to health. They increase the risk of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases. Recently, also sedentary behaviour has been associated with obesity and non-communicable diseases. Nevertheless, it has been unclear which type of sedentary behaviour is the most harmful. It is also unknown whether the relationship of sedentary behaviour with obesity is truly independent of other factors, for example physical activity and diet. Longitudinal data are limited, and the direction of causality and the mechanism of action are still unknown. Aims: The aim of this study was 1) to identify the type of sedentary behaviour having the strongest association with obesity, 2) to explore the causal relationship of sedentary behaviour and weight increase, and 3) to additionally, investigate the relationship of sedentary behaviour with fatty liver. These were studied in cross-sectional and/or longitudinal settings using data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Special emphasis was put on the evaluation of a wide range of other lifestyle factors and risks for obesity and fatty liver. Subjects: 2,060 subjects (aged 33-50 years in 2011, of which 55 % were female) from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study participating in follow-ups in 2001, 2007, and 2011. Measures: Self-reported time spent in various types of sedentary behaviour (I), or TV viewing time (I-III). Measured body weight, height and waist circumference (I-III), and genetic variants for high BMI (I). Fasting plasma concentrations of gamma-glutamyltransferase enzyme and triglyceride, calculated Fatty Liver Index (based on gamma-glutamyltransferase and triglyceride concentration, BMI and waist circumference), and the amount of intrahepatic fat measured with ultrasound (III). Self-reported leisure-time physical activity and active commuting, occupational physical activity, energy intake, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, socioeconomic status, and sleep duration as possible confounders were considered (I-III). Results: TV viewing is the sedentary behaviour type that has the strongest association with obesity. Sedentary behaviour (TV viewing) precedes weight increase, and not the other way around. Sedentary behaviour (TV viewing) is associated with increased risk of fatty liver. Conclusions: Sedentary behaviour (especially high TV viewing time) is associated with increased risks of obesity and fatty liver. Intervention studies are needed to assess whether reduction of TV time would prevent obesity and fatty liver.

Effects of overvaluation and exchange rate volatility over industrial investment: empirical evidence and economic policy proposals for Brazil

The present article aims to analyze the recent behavior of real exchange rate in Brazil and its effects over investment per worker in Brazilian manufacturing and extractive industry. Preliminary estimates presented in the article shows an over-valuation of 48% of real exchange rate in Brazil. The reaction between the level (and volatility) of real exchange rate and investment (per worker) in Brazil is analyzed by means of a panel data econometric model for 30 sectors of Brazilian manufacturing and extractive industry. The empirical results show that the level and volatility of real exchange rate has a strong effect over investment per worker in Brazilian industry. Finally, we conclude the article presenting a proposal for a new macroeconomic regime that aims to produce an acceleration of economic growth of Brazilian economy and, by that, a catching-up process with developed countries.

GLS Detrending, Efficient Unit Root Tests and Structural Change

We extend the class of M-tests for a unit root analyzed by Perron and Ng (1996) and Ng and Perron (1997) to the case where a change in the trend function is allowed to occur at an unknown time. These tests M(GLS) adopt the GLS detrending approach of Dufour and King (1991) and Elliott, Rothenberg and Stock (1996) (ERS). Following Perron (1989), we consider two models : one allowing for a change in slope and the other for both a change in intercept and slope. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the tests as well as that of the feasible point optimal tests PT(GLS) suggested by ERS. The asymptotic critical values of the tests are tabulated. Also, we compute the non-centrality parameter used for the local GLS detrending that permits the tests to have 50% asymptotic power at that value. We show that the M(GLS) and PT(GLS) tests have an asymptotic power function close to the power envelope. An extensive simulation study analyzes the size and power in finite samples under various methods to select the truncation lag for the autoregressive spectral density estimator. An empirical application is also provided.

Brachyuran Crabs of Cochin Backwaters- Diversity, Habitat Ecology and Systematics, with special emphasis to Genus Scylla

Among the decapod crustaceans, brachyuran crabs or the true crabs occupy a very significant position due to their ecological and economic value. Crabs support a sustenance fishery in India, even though their present status is not comparable to that of shrimps and lobsters. They are of great demand in the domestic market as well as in the foreign markets. In addition to this, brachyuran crabs are of great ecological importance. They form the conspicuous members of the mangrove ecosystems and play a significant role in detritus formation, nutrient recycling and dynamics of the ecosystem. Considering all these factors, crabs are often considered to be the keystone species of the mangrove ecosystem. Though several works have been undertaken on brachyuran crabs world –wide as well as within the country, reports on the brachyuran crabs of Kerala waters are very scanty. Most of the studies done on brachyuran fauna were from the east coast of India and a very few works from the west coast. Among the edible crabs, mud crabs belonging to genus Scylla forms the most important due to their large size and taste. They are being exported on a large scale to the foreign markets like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Kerala is the biggest supplier of live mud crabs and Chennai is the major centre of live mud crab export. However, there exists considerable confusion regarding the identification of mud crabs because of the subtle morphological differences between the species.In this context, an extensive study was undertaken on the brachyuran fauna of Cochin Backwaters, Kerala, India, to have a basic knowledge on their diversity, habitat preference and systematics. The study provides an attempt to resolve the confusion pertaining in the species identification of mud crabs belonging to Genus Scylla. Diversity study revealed the occurrence of 23 species of brachyuran crabs belonging to 16 genera and 8 families in the study area Cochin Backwaters. Among the families, the highest number of species was recorded from Family Portunidae .Among the 23 crab species enlisted from the Cochin backwaters, 5 species are of commercial importance and contribute a major share to the crustacean fishery of the Cochin region. It was observed that, the Cochin backwaters are invaded by certain marine migrant species during the Post monsoon and Pre monsoon periods and they are found to disappear with the onset of monsoon. The study reports the occurrence of the ‘herring bow crab’ Varuna litterata in the Cochin backwaters for the first time. Ecological studies showed that the substratum characteristics influence the occurrence, distribution and abundance of crabs in the sampling stations rather than water quality parameters. The variables which affected the crab distribution the most were Salinity, moisture content in the sediment, organic carbon and the sediment texture. Besides the water and sediment quality parameters, the most important factor influencing the distribution of crabs is the presence of mangroves. The study also revealed that most of the crabs encountered from the study area preferred a muddy substratum, with high organic carbon content and high moisture content. In the present study, an identification key is presented for the brachyuran crabs occurring along the study area the Cochin backwaters and the associated mangrove patches, taking into account the morphological characters coupled with the structure of third maxillipeds, first pleopods of males and the shape of male abdomen. Morphological examination indicated the existence of a morphotype which is comparable with the morphological features of S. tranquebarica, the morphometric study and the molecular analyses confirmed the non existence of S. tranquebarica in the Cochin backwaters.

Reconogsing and planning for special needs in the early years.

Recurso para que los profesionales den el apoyo adecuado a los niños pequeños con necesidades educativas especiales e identifiquen y planifiquen nuevas necesidades de cada niño que tienen bajo su cuidado. Trata observación y evaluación de las necesidades, el desarrollo físico, y cómo detectar los problemas, la comunicación, el lenguaje y la alfabetización, y cómo detectar las dificultades. Hay también estudio de casos de niños de cero a cinco años y un CD-ROM con material fotocopiable.

Epigenetics and its implications for Psychology

Resumen tomado de la publicación

An analysis of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests and the Diagnostic Reading Scales for use with hearing-impaired children

This paper examines two individually administered diagnostic reading tests, the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests and the Diagnostic Reading Scales, to determine their value for use with hearing-impaired children.

Towards a Eurasian Economic Union: the challenge of integration and unity. CEPS Special Report No. 75/December 2012

In the lead-up to the creation of a Eurasian Economic Union in 2015, the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan represent two elements of the most ambitious regional integration project launched in the post-Soviet era since 1991. This CEPS Special Report examines both the potential and the limits of Eurasian economic integration. For the purpose of assessing the Eurasian integration process, CEPS applied a modified version of a framework first developed by Ernest B. Haas and Philippe C. Schmitter in 1964 to project whether economic integration of a group of countries automatically engenders political unity. Taking the data available for the early stages of the European integration process as a benchmark, the results for the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space point to a rather unfavourable outlook for Eurasian economic integration.