bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of clinical outcomes following in‐hospital adult cardiac arrest
Authors: Cohn A. C. , Wilson W. M. , Yan B. , Joshi S. B. , Heily M. , Morley P. , Maruff P. , Grigg L. E. , Ajani A. E.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

Aims:  The outcome of in‐hospital resuscitation following cardiac arrest depends on many factors related to the patient, the environment and the extent of resuscitation efforts. The aim of the present study was to determine predictors of successful resuscitation and survival to ­hospital discharge following in‐hospital cardiac arrest and to assess functional outcomes of survivors (cerebral performance scores).

Methods:  Medical records of adult patients sustaining in‐hospital cardiac arrest between June 2001 and January 2003 were reviewed. Successful resuscitation was defined as the return of spontaneous circulation at the completion of resuscitative efforts, irrespective of degree of inotropic/vasopressor support. Thirty demographic and clinical variables were analysed to determine predictors of successful resuscitation and in‐hospital survival.

Results:  In 105 patients with cardiac arrest, 46 patients (44%) were successfully resuscitated and 22 (21%) ­survived to hospital discharge. Predictors of successful resuscitation included a primary cardiac admission diagnosis, monitoring at the time of the arrest, a longer duration of resuscitation and the absence of the need for endotracheal intubation. Patients with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation were more likely to survive to hospital discharge than those with asystolic or pulseless electrical activity (45 vs 12 vs 20%, P = 0.01). The sole independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge was the absence of the need for endotracheal intu­bation (odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.02−0.88, P < 0.01). The majority of survivors (73%) had normal cerebral performance scores.

Conclusions:  Identification of predictors of successful resuscitation following cardiac arrest is important for risk stratification. Ongoing appraisal of in‐hospital cardiac arrests through a multicentre registry could improve clinical outcomes. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 398−402)
Aciclovir or ganciclovir universal prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection in liver transplantation: an economic analysis
Authors: Leong R. W. L. , Smith D. W. , Garas G. , Beaman J. M. , Mitchell A. W. , Heath D. I. , House A. K. , Jeffrey G. P.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) following orthotopic liver transplantation can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Prophylaxis with oral aciclovir (ACV) or ganciclovir (GCV) for all transplant recipients (universal prophylaxis) may be beneficial, but which agent is more cost‐effective is unknown.

Methods: A single centre, retrospective study of all patients who had OLT at the Western Australian Liver Transplantation Service was performed. Patients received ACV from 1992 to 1998, and GCV from 1999 to 2001. A comparative cost‐effectiveness analysis for the two groups was performed based on the mean total cost of the number of cases of CMV infection and disease as the clinical end‐point.

Results: The ACV group comprised of 55 patients and there were 24 in the GCV group. The incidence of CMV disease was 7% and 4% for the ACV and GCV groups, respectively (P > 0.05). For CMV infection it was 16% and 8%, respectively (P > 0.05). GCV prevented more cases of CMV infection and disease than ACV but at an incremental cost of $A20 000 ($US10 172) per case prevented. Overall, ACV was more cost‐effective than GCV by $A2200 ($US1119) per person. The cost benefit of ACV was derived principally through a reduced pharmaceutical cost. Both agents were well tolerated without development of antiviral resistance.

Conclusions: Universal prophylaxis of CMV infection ­following liver transplantation with aciclovir is more cost‐effective than with ganciclovir. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 410−415)
Short course intravenous benzylpenicillin treatment of adults with meningococcal disease
Authors: Briggs S. , Ellis‐Pegler R. , Roberts S. , Thomas M. , Woodhouse A.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

Background : Short‐course treatment of meningococcal disease (including meningitis) with 4−5 days of an i.v. β‐lactam is of proven efficacy. Since April 1998, all adult patients with meningococcal disease admitted to Auckland Hospital were prospectively treated with 3 days of i.v. benzylpenicillin.

Aims : To assess the clinical features, laboratory findings, disease complications and outcome of patients with meningococcal disease prospectively treated with 3 days of i.v. benzylpenicillin.

Methods:  A retrospective chart review of all adult patients with meningococcal disease admitted to Auckland Hospital from April 1998 to December 2002 was conducted.

Results:  Ninety patients with definite (n = 72) or ­probable (n = 16) meningococcal disease were admitted during the study period. Two were excluded on the basis of treatment duration. The remaining 88 patients received a mean ± standard deviation duration of treatment of 3.1 ± 0.5 days (excluding those who died while receiving treatment). Six patients (7%) died, four of whom while on treatment. There were no relapses.

Conclusion : Three days of i.v. benzylpenicillin for the treatment of adults with meningococcal disease is effective. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 383−387)
Positron emission tomography scanning in the assessment of patients with lymphoma
Authors: Foo S. S. , Mitchell P. L. , Berlangieri S. U. , Smith C. L. , Scott A. M.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

Background : The detection of lymphoma by computed tomography (CT) scanning is known to be improved by positron emission tomography (PET) and/or gallium scanning, although the direct comparative accuracy of these imaging modalities remains a subject of ongoing review.

Aims : The aim of the present study was to compare PET scanning with conventional imaging (CT and/or gallium scanning) in patients with lymphoma.

Methods : A retrospective study of 38 patients (25 men; 13 women; median age 39.5 years; range 18.0−81.0 years) who had had PET scans (24 scans at initial staging and 46 scans at restaging, including suspected disease relapse) was carried out. Thirty‐one concurrent gallium scans had been performed. Disease was validated with clinical follow up or biopsy.

Results : The sensitivities of PET and CT at initial staging were 96 and 71%, respectively. PET identified additional sites of disease compared with CT in 29% of patients. Of the 15 patients who had had all three imaging modalities, the sensitivities of PET, CT and gallium were 93, 67 and 87%, respectively. At treatment completion, the positive predictive values of PET, CT and gallium scans for relapse given a residual mass were 100, 33 and 0%, respectively (P = 0.006 for PET and CT comparison). The negative predictive values of PET, CT and gallium were 76, 0 and 70%, respectively (P‐value not significant). In suspected disease relapse, PET results changed management in 50% of patients.

Conclusion : Compared with CT and gallium scans, PET has superior accuracy in staging and restaging, and its greatest value lies in its positive predictive value for relapse in patients with residual masses. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 388−397)
Scorpion stings in Australia: five definite stings and a review
Authors: Isbister G. K. , Volschenk E. S. , Seymour J. E.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

Despite scorpions being locally abundant in many parts of Australia, scorpion sting is a poorly defined clinical condition in Australia. Many health‐care workers are unaware of the effects of their stings and scorpions are often feared based on their international reputation. Five scorpion stings that occurred in different parts of Australia where the scorpion was caught at the time of the sting and identified by a professional arachnologist are reported in the present paper. The spectrum of clinical effects of scorpion stings in Australia and the potential for significant effects are discussed. These cases and recent prospective case series demonstrate that in ­Australia scorpion stings cause only minor effects. The main effect is localized pain lasting for several hours, associated less commonly with systemic effects, local numbness and paraesthesia. Most stings are from smaller scorpions from the family Buthidae and often occur indoors at night. The stings from Australian buthid scorpions cause more severe effects than from the larger species in the families Urodacidae (genus Urodacus) and Liochelidae (genus Liocheles). (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 427−430)
Ethics and public health
Authors: Leeder S. R.
Published: July 2004

Abstract

This paper examines the differences between clinical and public health ethics and provides several examples of contemporary public health challenges that pose ethical questions. The relations among ethics, rights and obligations are explored, because public health philosophers propose these as different ways for public health to align its activities to what we value. Resources for education in relation to the ethics of public health are identified. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 435−439)
Formulating for efficacy1
Authors: Wiechers J. W. , Kelly C. L. , Blease T. G. , Dederen J. C.
Published: July 2004

Synopsis

Active ingredients have been around in cosmetics for a long time but have they really resulted in active cosmetic products? In order to achieve this, the right active needs to be delivered to the right location at the right concentration for the correct period of time. And the extent (and therefore the concentration) of this delivery depends on the formulation. From a rather theoretical approach based on the polarity of the active ingredient, the stratum corneum and the oil phase, the Relative Polarity Index was established that enables the selection of a suitable emollient for ensuring skin penetration of the active ingredient. Practical examples subsequently show the validity of this approach that demonstrates that one can regulate the delivery of an active molecule (and therefore the efficacy of a cosmetic formulation) by selection and control of the emollient system. Cosmetic formulations are generally quite complex mixtures and subsequent experiments using different emulsifier systems indicated that this component of a cosmetic formulation could also have an impact on steering the active ingredient to the right layer of the skin, although it is too early to be able to derive general rules from this.
Peau sèche‐rêche et “Hydratation”. Concept de la capture de l'eau organisée comme de la glace
Authors: Forestier J. P.
Published: July 2004

Synopsis

About sixty years ago Frank and Evans showed, by entropy measurements, that when a “non‐polar molecule dissolves in water it modifies the water structure in the direction of greater ‘cristallinity’, the water builds a microscopic iceberg around it” Now, we propose the “concept of ice‐like‐water capture”: a lowering of organized ice‐like water promotes aggregation (loss of solubility) of the filaggrin/keratin1/keratin10 associations through their hydrophobic patches. The capture of ice‐like water may be performed by the glucoceramides‐rich bilayers in stratum granulosum. Probably, the same process aggregates the proteins of corneocytes envelope as well as corneodesmosomes proteins. According to the “concept of ice‐like‐water capture”, to regulate the keratinization, it is not total water that must be added to the stratum corneum, but ice‐like water that must be removed from stratum granulosum. Both petrolatum (lipophilic ingredient) and glycerol (hydrophilic ingredient) would capture the ice‐like water, most probably after combination with the lipid bilayers of stratum corneum. Moisturizing cream, when organized in secondary droplets is likely to perform the same action. Measurements by near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy of the skin show that petrolatum; glycerol and/or moisturizing cream enhance the quantity of bulk water (1890–1897 nm band). As the ice‐like water is the complement of bulk water, the enhanced bulk water let presume an ice‐like water lessening. Some desynchronization (late or forward) of the keratinization/differentiation which confer the somatosensory problems associated with “dry and flaky skin” may be linked to an excess or lack of ice‐like. For instance, the winter xerosis, very common by chilling weather, could be explained by an increase of ice‐like water driven by the fall of the temperature.
Relationship between UVA protection and skin response to UV light: proposal for labelling UVA protection
Authors: Jean‐Louis Refrégier M.
Published: July 2004

Synopsis

Definition and validation of a most relevant method to assess ultravoilet A (UVA) protection is a major concern for industry, authorities and consumers. However, due to the lack of knowledge about all the biological phenomena involved, the level of UVA protection needed, the ways to assess and label it, remain controversial. In order to overcome this situation, the paper deals with the outcomes of a mathematical model to calculate the distribution between ultravoilet B (UVB) and UVA components of skin responses to UV light. Mathematical calculations of UVB and UVA erythemal components of skin response to sunlight are developed from the well‐known determination procedure to calculate the sunburn protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens. The model establishes the relationship between the UVA component of skin erythemal response to overall UV radiation received from sunlight and the ratio SPF/PFAe (erythemal protection factor) where SPF is the product and PFAe is related to the UVA part of the sunlight. Depending on the efficacy profile of sunscreens, the skin erythemal response may be mainly promoted by UVB rays as it normally occurs in unprotected skin or on contrary by UVA rays. Therefore, the efficacy profile of sunscreens defines the deepness where biological events induced by sunlight take place. This new relationship pinpoints the tremendous importance of the protection afforded by sunscreen products in the UVA range when erythema is taken as biological response. By extrapolation of the model to any other biological skin response it becomes possible to predict how to improve the efficiency of sunscreen products in the future. UVA protection afforded by sunscreens should be improved until reaching the same level as the SPF protection factor so that all UV‐induced biological responses could be prevented or lowered at the same extend. To enforce this improvement, a proposal to classify sunscreen products in relation with their UVA protection is made.
Beyond sun protection factor testing
Authors: Rhodes L. E. , Callaghan T. M.
Published: July 2004

Synopsis

Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight produces a range of acute and chronic adverse effects on the skin including sunburn, photosensitivity rashes, immunosuppression, photoageing and carcinogenesis. Sunscreens aim to provide protection, but standard testing procedures primarily involve assessment of ability to protect against acute erythema, as evidenced by the sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF may correlate poorly with other aspects of protection, particularly since ultraviolet A is weakly erythemogenic compared with ultraviolet B, yet may make a greater contribution to certain other skin effects of sunlight. Nevertheless, there is an increasing tendency for the sunscreen industry to make claims for their products beyond the SPF data. There is a need to develop systems for clinical testing of sunscreens against other endpoints caused by ultraviolet exposure of skin, including immunosuppression and photosensitivity rashes. In particular, there is a largely unrecognized need for testing of sunscreens against the condition known as polymorphic light eruption, a photosensitivity disorder estimated to affect a staggering 10–20% of the population in the northern hemisphere. Ultimately, protection of the skin by sunscreens can only be as effective as their adequacy of application to the skin surface in the everyday setting permits. Optimal sunscreen formulation, and public and patient education in appropriate application technique, both make vital contributions to efficacy of sunscreen protection. This article focuses on the need for extended clinical testing of sunscreens, with particular reference to the photosensitivity disorders, and for improvements in sunscreen formulation and in the adequacy of sunscreen application to the skin surface.
Enhancement of human fibroblast growth and other dermatological effects induced by cell extract from heat‐shocked blue green alga (Cyanobacteria)
Authors: Sasaki S. , Kobayashi T. , Kumagai S. , Hiyama T.
Published: July 2004

It has been known that high amounts of ‘heat shock proteins (HSPs)’ are produced under heat and other environmental stresses in cells. Recently, it was reported that HSP could also be accumulated in some dermal cells to protect the cellular proteins from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. Here, the authors have focused on thermophilic cyanobacteria and the heat shock treatment. Thermophilic cyanobacteria are known to thrive under extreme environmental conditions, and produce distinctively high amounts of HSP when exposed to higher temperatures. We tested cell extract from heat‐shocked cyanobacterial cells on a number of skin‐related biological activities and found it significantly effective. The cyanobacterial cells, originally collected from a spa as hot as 55 °C, were cultivated in the laboratory at 50 °C and broken by a freeze‐fracture method. The extract thus obtained had a superoxide dismutase (SOD)‐like activity and inhibited lipid peroxide formation. We found that the extract obtained from the heat‐shocked (at 63 °C) cells showed a much stronger SOD‐like activity, while the inhibitory effect on lipid peroxide formation remained almost the same. Furthermore, the SOD‐like activity could withstand heat up to 70 °C for as long as 1 h. Most remarkably, supplementing this heat‐shocked extract strongly promoted the proliferation of human dermal fibroblast culture. Extracts from the cells grown at a regular temperature (50 °C) did not promote the proliferation of the fibroblasts. The heat‐shocked extract was fractionated by ultrafiltration for further analysis. A fraction (molecular weight: 10 000–30 000) has shown the strongest activity so far. These results indicate that the heat‐shocked cyanobacterial extract with its increased amounts of HSPs is a promising potent ingredient for anti‐aging cosmetic materials.
Does Union Membership Really Reduce Job Satisfaction?
Authors: Bryson Alex , Cappellari Lorenzo , Lucifora Claudio
Published: July 2004

We investigate the effect of union membership on job satisfaction. Using linked employer–employee data from the 1998 British Workplace Employee Relations Survey, we analyse the relationship between the membership decision and overall job satisfaction and satisfaction with pay. In this paper we account for the endogenous selection induced by the sorting of workers into unionized jobs. Controlling for both individual and establishment heterogeneity and explicitly modelling the effect of union status, we find that the marked difference in job satisfaction between unionized and non‐unionized workers disappears, suggesting that a selection effect, rather than a causal effect, characterizes the relationship.
Do Unions Affect Employer Compliance with the Law? New Zealand Evidence for Age Discrimination
Authors: Harcourt Mark , Wood Geoffrey , Harcourt Sondra
Published: July 2004

Over the last thirty years, collective rights to organize into unions, bargain collectively and strike have been weakened in both New Zealand and the UK. At the same time, individual rights to due process and to protection from discriminatory or unjust management decisions have been strengthened, leading some to conclude that collective and individual rights are unrelated, incompatible or mutually exclusive. On the contrary, we use evidence of employer compliance with anti‐age provisions in the New Zealand Human Rights Act to show that the two sets of rights can be highly complementary: the presence of unions strengthens individual protection from discriminatory treatment.
Neurogenesis in a rat model of age‐related cognitive decline
Authors: Bizon J. L. , Lee H. J. , Gallagher M.
Published: July 2004

Age‐related decrements in hippocampal neurogenesis have been suggested as a basis for learning impairment during aging. In the current study, a rodent model of age‐related cognitive decline was used to evaluate neurogenesis in relation to hippocampal function. New hippocampal cell survival was assessed approximately 1 month after a series of intraperitoneal injections of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU). Correlational analyses between individual measures of BrdU‐positive cells and performance on the Morris water maze task provided no indication that this measure of neurogenesis was more preserved in aged rats with intact cognitive abilities. On the contrary, among aged rats, higher numbers of BrdU‐positive cells in the granule cell layer were associated with a greater degree of impairment on the learning task. Double‐labelling studies confirmed that the majority of the BrdU+ cells were of the neuronal phenotype; the proportion of differentiated neurons was not different across a broad range of cognitive abilities. These data demonstrate that aged rats that maintain cognitive function do so despite pronounced reductions in hippocampal neurogenesis. In addition, these findings suggest the interesting possibility that impaired hippocampal function is associated with greater survival of newly generated hippocampal neurons at advanced ages.
Signalling shutdown strategies in aging immune cells
Authors: Ayub Khurram , Hallett Maurice B.
Published: July 2004

It is important for the resolution of inflammation that the number and activity of immune cells are reduced. Clearance of immune cells may be achieved by apoptosis and phagocytosis of cell fragments by macrophages. However, signalling shutdown by immune cells committed to apoptosis occurs early in the progression of these cells towards fragmentation and, it could be argued, is a key feature of apoptosis. There is surprisingly little known about the mechanisms that underlie this signalling shutdown, in particular the shutdown of Ca2+ influx. The consequences and the potential mechanisms by which Ca2+ influx shutdown is achieved are discussed. In addition, the potential consequences for cell signalling of cytochrome c release from mitochondria and of phosphatidyl‐serine externalization are discussed. The aim of the review is therefore to highlight the evidence for various signalling shutdown strategies in immune cells that may limit their activity during progression towards apoptosis.
Hormones and immune function: implications of aging
Authors: Arlt Wiebke , Hewison Martin
Published: July 2004

Aging is associated with a decline in immunity described as immunosenescence. This is paralleled by a decline in the production of several hormones, as typically illustrated by the menopausal loss of ovarian oestrogen production. However, other hormonal changes that occur with aging and that potentially impact on immune function include the release of the pineal gland hormone melatonin and pituitary growth hormone, adrenal production of dehydroepiandrosterone and tissue‐specific availability of active vitamin D. It remains to be established whether hormonal changes with aging actually contribute to immunosenescence and this area is at the interface of fact and fiction, clearly inviting systematic research efforts. As a step in this direction, the present review summarizes established facts on the physiology of secretion and function of hormones that, in most cases, decline with aging and that are likely to affect the immune system.
THE GRAMM‐LEACH‐BLILEY ACT OF 1999: RISK IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY
Authors: Akhigbe Aigbe , Whyte Ann Marie
Published: July 2004

We document significant risk changes in the financial services industry following the passage of the Gramm‐Leach‐Bliley Act of 1999. Banks experience an increase in risk regardless of whether they have taken steps to participate actively in the investment banking business. Insurance companies also experience an increase in risk, whereas securities firms experience a decrease in risk. We attribute the increase in risk for banks and insurance companies to the fact that the securities business is relatively more risky, and the decline in risk for securities firms to the fact that they can now diversify into relatively less risky banking and insurance businesses.
WHEN‐ISSUED SHARES, SMALL TRADES, AND THE VARIANCE OF RETURNS AROUND STOCK SPLITS
Authors: Angel James J. , Brooks Raymond M. , Mathew Prem G.
Published: July 2004

The increases in volatility after stock splits have long puzzled researchers. The usual suspects of discreteness and bid‐ask spread do not provide a complete explanation. We provide new clues to solve this mystery by examining the trading of when‐issued shares that are available before the split. When‐issued trading permits noise traders to compete with a more homogenous set of traders, decreasing the volatility of the stock before the split. Following the split, these noise traders reunite in one market and volatility increases. Thus, the higher volatility after the ex date of a stock split is a function of the introduction of when‐issued trading, the new lower price level after the split date, and the increased activity of small‐volume traders around a stock split.
ASYMMETRIC COVARIANCE, VOLATILITY, AND THE EFFECT OF NEWS
Authors: Dean Warren G. , Faff Robert W.
Published: July 2004

We propose that covariance (rather than beta) asymmetry provides a superior framework for examining issues related to changing risk premiums. Accordingly, we investigate whether the conditional covariance between stock and market returns is asymmetric in response to good and bad news. Our model of conditional covariance accommodates both the sign and magnitude of return innovations, and we find significant covariance asymmetry that can explain, at least in part, the volatility feedback of stock returns. Our findings are consistent across firm size, firm leverage, and temporal and cross‐sectional aggregations.
MARKET TIMING OF INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKETS USING THE YIELD SPREAD
Authors: Liu Wei (Wendy) , Resnick Bruce G. , Shoesmith Gary L.
Published: July 2004

We use probit modeling to forecast bear stock markets in the United States and in eight major foreign stock markets. In general, we find that the U.S. yield spread contains more important market‐timing information than does the home‐country yield spread for profitable market timing. At a 35% probability screen, our simulations show that the U.S. dollar (representative local currency) investor could earn a median compound annual return across eight foreign (non‐U.S.) stock markets of 15.75% (17.67%) by following a market‐timing strategy versus a median buy‐and‐hold return of 13.56% (16.55%).
Specifying abstract data types by restriction
Authors: Linden Theodore A.
Published: July 2004

Restrictions are one instance of mathematically-based relationships between types that can be used to simplify program specifications. Restriction of an abstract data type provides a theoretical justification for the concept of a hidden function that appears in some current specification methodologies. The use of type restrictions to simplify formal specifications is illustrated by the example of traversible stacks.
A note on program reliability
Authors: Horning Jim
Published: July 2004

I introduced a recent pair of lectures [1] with some remarks about program reliability, in the form of an example, a safe prediction, a nightmare, an observation, and a challenge. Although the technical content of these lectures has already been published [2], the introductory remarks have not, and some students were kind enough to suggest that they were worthy of circulation to a wider audience via Software Engineering Notes.
Small-scale software components
Authors: Emery James E.
Published: July 2004

An empirical study to identify standardizable small-scale software components from existing source code is described. The rationale for such an effort is presented, followed by a description of the specific study performed by the author. Component identification methods are presented along with preliminary findings. Future identification efforts and possible notational schemes are also discussed.
Program reduction using symbolic execution
Authors: King James C.
Published: July 2004

By "program reduction" we mean making a program simpler according to some measure. For the narrow purposes here, that measure is the number of statements in the program. We are interested in the case when an existing program, assumed to be correct, is too general, too big, for a given situations. A simpler program, consistent with the original, but operating over a smaller domain is desired. We found that a program verifier, based on the symbolic execution methodology, with some minor enhancements could handle this program reduction task. The technique is interesting because it is such a simple, but powerful, application of such a program prover.
The impact of programming styles on debugging efficiency
Authors: Newsted Peter R. , Leong Wing-Keen , Yeung Joanna
Published: July 2004

Experimental results are presented indicating that programming techniques with identation, documentation, mnemonic variable names, modular design, as well as external design aids (i.e. structure charts, data flow diagrams, but not flow charts), correlate with fewer errors. Results also indicate that programmers who use these techniques take less time to detect and solve program bugs, suggesting that efficiency is increased.
Recommended
Authors: Glass Robert L.
Published: July 2004

Tools and toolsets for the software builder are receiving increased attention. Research into new-concept tools is progressing. However, the use of tools in the software workplace is not. This paper asserts that what is needed is a Minimum Standard Software Toolset which is available to all professional programmers in all workplaces. The functional content of such a toolset is proposed, based heavily on the work of the U.S. Department of Defense in its Ada Programming Support Environment.
A contracts course for software engineers
Authors: Frankel Eric C.
Published: July 2004

Software engineering practitioners are often called upon to provide technical support in marketing and contracting. That support is more useful when the contributors have a firm understanding of the goals and techniques of these two business oriented activities. Of course, software engineers seeking advancement into higher levels of management should possess a more comprehensive knowledge and expertise.This paper describes a graduate level course designed to prepare software engineering students for efficient participation in the technical support of marketing and contracting activities.
Interactive program execution in Lispedit
Authors: Mikelsons Martin
Published: July 2004

We describe a powerful interactive debugger (Heval) embedded in a larger programming environment (Lispedit). In Lispedit, the programmer creates, edits and files Lisp functions from a uniform editor interface that makes use of the structure of Lisp expressions. With Heval, the programmer can execute Lisp expressions and functions in a very natural way through the editor interface. We describe the debugging interface and how it has evolved over several years of use.
The role of debugging within software engineering environments
Authors: Müllerburg Monika A. F.
Published: July 2004

Programming environments (PEs) support a single programmer developing small- to medium-scale programs, whereas software development support systems and software engineering environments (SE
2
s) support whole project teams, developing Large-scale software. There is no reason to believe that one and only one support system may exist. The usefulness of one or the other depends on the particular situation of software development.

Debugging is distinguished from testing and defined not only for removing bugs from programs (dynamic debugging) but also from documents describing the programs (static debugging).

The key problem of debugging is understanding the software. Debugging may be supported by static analysis tools and by interactive debugging systems which help both to understand the software better and to estimate the impacts of an intended change. Graphical representations are also very useful for better understanding system structures and for recognising faults and clashes faster. Tools may furthermore be used to report errors and corrections, and to maintain these reports.

In the context of PEs and SE
2
s the tools supporting debugging are connected. Tools can be based on a uniform internal representation, allowing a uniform user interface. Tasks and corresponding tools can be tailored to each other, avoiding duplication of work. One task knows what the others have already done. One knows if certain types of errors have been prevented or removed, i.e. if static analysis tools prevent data flow errors during runtime. Tools and results of other tasks may be used, i.e. cross reference lists and test path reports. Similarities and differences of debugging in PEs and in SE
2
s are discussed by some example systems. The discussion is concluded by demonstrating possible influences on future software development by personal computers, knowledge engineering, and predicative programming.
Interactive debugging of concurrent programs
Authors: Weber Jonice Cynthia
Published: July 2004

This paper summarizes techniques for designing and implementing source-level interactive debuggers for concurrent programs. Facilities common to source-level interactive debuggers have been adapted to meet the needs of a concurrent programming environment. Of special interest are those debugging facilities which allow the programmer to monitor and influence the execution of concurrent processes.
Implementation issues for a source level symbolic debugger
Authors: Johnson John D. , Kenney Gary W.
Published: July 2004

This paper deals with issuces that have emerged as a result of a successful implementation of a source level symbolic debugger for HP-1000 computer systems. By analyzing a user's thought processes during a debugging session we created a powerful and easy to use tool for program analysis.
High-level debugging assistance via optimizing compiler technology
Authors: Ottenstein Karl J. , Ottenstein Linda M.
Published: July 2004

A primary benefit of most software tools is either the prevention or the detection of human error in the development process. Languages, such as Pascal and Ada, have been designed with features such as strong typing to increase the amount of error detection that can be done by the compiler. Syntax directed editors [11] also decrease the opportunity for the introduction of human error.

Our paper describes some of the debugging assistance which can be provided to a user during the transformation of a program by an optimizing compiler. Our premise is that the additional information obtained during optimization could warrant the sole use of optimizing compilers during software development.
VAX DEBUG
Authors: Beander Bert
Published: July 2004

Digital Equipment Corporation's VAX-11 Debugger, usually called VAX DEBUG or simply DEBUG, is an interactive, symbolic, and multilingual debugger which runs on the VAX-11 series of computers under the VMS operating system. The following gives an overview of VAX DEBUG and examines how it solves some of the problems inherent in the design of any such debugger. Particular attention is paid to how its command language is designed, how it distinguishes between addresses and values in command input, how it solves the problem of accessing and organizing symbol table information, and how it exercises control over the user program.
The use of quick prototypes in the secure military message systems project
Authors: Heitmeyer C. , Landwehr C. , Cornwell M.
Published: July 2004

This paper describes the role of quick prototyping in the Secure Military Message Systems project. The issues that are being explored with quick prototyping are identified. To date, a small prototype message system written in Franz Lisp has been implemented on a Vax 11/780. The guidelines observed and the lessons learned in constructing the prototype are discussed.
Research proposal to study
Authors: Lehman M. M.
Published: July 2004

A brief summary of current thinking about the programming process and programming support environments is followed by the presentation of an laternative viewpoint based on the concept of models. Examples of executable metric models and of the role they might play suggest research to examine and evaluate their use, to develop appropriate methodologies and tool support and to study techniques for their integration into an advanced environment. Successful completion of such investigations will provide one of the basic technologies needed for the successful design and construction of a vertically integrated programming support system.
Specification prototyping
Authors: MacEwen Glenn H.
Published: July 2004

The use of an explicit life cycle model for prototyping is argued for three major benefits: First, the discipline promotes correctness via the constructive approach as with production systems. Second, the levels of specification at which prototyping is to be carried out are made explicit. Third, the methods and tools to be used for the production system can be exercised and evaluated.
HIBOL
Authors: Mittermeir Roland T.
Published: July 2004

The aim of this paper is to describe HIBOL from the point of view of its suitability for fast prototyping of business data processing applications. This suitability stems basically from the fact that HIBOL (or its special editor) allows for a very convenient definition of the user interface as form templets which can be either bound to a crt-terminal, to formatted print output or structured input/output from other edp media. Using HIBOL, the prototyping activity consists of 5 phases: activity definition, definition of form templets, definition of elementary data types, definition of the actual computations and an optional optimization phase.
The disciplined use of simplifying assumptions
Authors: Rich Charles , Waters Richard C.
Published: July 2004

Simplifying assumptions --- everyone uses them but no one's programming tool explicitly supports them. In programming, as in other kinds of engineering design, simplifying assumptions are an important method for dealing with complexity. Given a complex programming problem, expert programmers typically choose simplifying assumptions which, though false, allow them to arrive rapidly at a program which addresses the important features of the problem without being distracted by all of its details. The simplifying assumptions are then incrementally retracted with corresponding modifications to the initial program. This methodology is particularly applicable to rapid prototyping because the main questions of interest can often be answered using only the initial program.Simplifying assumptions can easily be misused. In order to use them effectively two key issues must be addressed. First, simplifying assumptions should be chosen which simplify the design problem significantly without changing the essential character of the program which needs to be implemented. Second, the designer must keep track of all the assumptions he is making so that he can later retract them in an orderly manner. By explicitly dealing with these issues, a programming assistant system could directly support the use of simplifying assumptions as a disciplined part of the software development process.
Rapid prototyping of interactive information systems
Authors: Wasserman Anthony I. , Shewmake David T.
Published: July 2004

The User Software Engineering methodology is a set of techniques, supported by automated tools (Unified Support Environment), to support the specification and implementation of interactive information systems. The methodology advocates construction of a prototype of the user/program dialogue as an aid to the analysis process, and suggests the construction of a functional prototype as an aid to the specification. The USE tool RAPID (RApid Prototypes of Interactive Dialogues) supports the construction of prototypes and partial systems. RAPID builds upon two automated tools, the Transition Diagram Interpreter (TDI) and a relational database management system (Troll). This paper describes the role of prototypes in the USE methodology and the function and use of RAPID, TDI, and Troll.
An introduction to the DREAM software design system
Authors: Riddle William E. , Sayler John H. , Segal Alan R. , Wileden Jack C.
Published: July 2004

We describe the underlying philosophy, the system organization and the design language of the Design Realization Evaluation And Modelling system, a prototype of a system being developed to aid software system designers.
Productivity measurement on software engineering projects
Authors: Zelkowitz Marvin V.
Published: July 2004

The milestone is often used as a measure of project progress on large scale software developments. In this report, a quantitative measure of the milestone is developed and shown to be consistent with existing estimating techniques.
Software development monitoring graphs
Authors: Tanik Murat M.
Published: July 2004

Two different software tools that can be utilized in software development projects by management, systems analysts, and programmers are developed. These tools are collectively called monitoring graphs. The first type of monitoring graph is called a complexity graph. It is used to represent the complexity of a program or a system of programs. The second type of monitoring graph is called a development graph. It is used in the control of a software project.These monitoring graphs basically look like Kiviat graphs which are used in performance evaluation studies. Fundamentally, a complexity graph is a circle with eight axes. The values to be represented on each axis are obtained from a set of prediction equations which are generated through multiple linear regression analysis. These complexity graphs can further be grouped into three different types depending on the type of data represented on each axis. These types are individual complexity graphs, cumulative complexity graphs and average complexity graphs. Structurally speaking, a development graph is the same as a complexity graph with exception of the information represented on each axis. In a development graph, each axis represents quantities such as percentage of time spent on debugging, percentage of time spent on testing etc. Development graphs are grouped into two different types depending on the function they serve. These types are program development graphs and system development graphs.The userulness of the complexity graphs is tested on a set of COBOL and FORTRAN programs. For development graphs, development patterns of 69 COBOL programs written by two skilled professional programmers are traced for 33 weeks producing weekly patterns of the development graphs to observe the usefulness and efficiency of this method.
A preliminary experiment in automated software testing
Authors: Benson Jeoff
Published: July 2004

If a method were discovered for automatically testing computer programs for errors, software development costs could be substantially reduced. This paper describes an experiment performed as part of an effort to develop such a method.The approach is to insert in the program to be tested a number of "executable assertions," statements about the program that trigger error signals whenever they are evaluated to be false (violated). Test cases are developed by systematically selecting values for the input variables of the program. When the program is run, a plot is generated of the number of assertions violated versus the values of the input variables. The resulting function is termed an "error function" and the range of the function is called the "error space" of the program. Maximum values of the error function correspond to input variables which cause the most errors to occur in the program. The value of the error function indicates whether the program executed successfully without the need of examining the output of the program in detail.In the experiment, a program was tested using this technique. The results showed that the error function did not contain singularities and was well-behaved. The technique also revealed an error in the test program which had not been discovered in previous testing. These results indicate that it may be possible to apply standard techniques for maximizing functions in order to locate the values in a program's input space which cause the most errors to occur. A major unresolved problem however is the development of assertions which accurately describe the desired behavior of the program under test.
Relational data bases in the design of program construction systems
Authors: Ceri S. , Crespi-Reghizzi S.
Published: July 2004

A methodology for designing and implementing program construction systems using relational data bases is presented. Relations are the only data structures used by them and in the definition of interfaces between subsystems. A special-purpose relational database manager (RDB) has been designed for this application.Two large projects using this approach are described. ART (Ada-Relational-Translator) is an experimental compiler-interpreter for ADA in which all subsystems, including parser, semantic analyzer, interpreter and kernel, use relations as their only data structure; the relational approach has been pushed to the upmost to achieve fast prototyping. MML (Multi-Micro Line) is a tool-set for constructing program programs for multi-microprocessors targets, in which relations are used for allocation and configuration control. Both experiences confirm the validity of the approach for managing team work in evolving projects.
Report on the software process workshop
Authors: Riddle William E.
Published: July 2004

This report reviews the presentations and discussions at a workshop on the software development and maintenance process held 6-8 February 1984 in Egham, England.
The magic number eighteen plus or minus three
Authors: Riddle William E.
Published: July 2004

It is commonly thought that 10 years is needed for technology to pass from its initial conception into wide-spread use. In the process of gathering data to argue the need for a technology improvement program, we investigated the technology maturation process for three environments supporting software development. Our hypothesis was that more than 10 years was needed; our guess was that the period would be more on the order of 15 years; and we found that it takes on the order of 18 years for systems such as these to nature. Technology maturation time lines for the three systems are presented and some comments are provided on what facilitates and inhibits software technology maturation.