Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specifica...Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specification/modeling and the design, and try to find a good match between them. The key task done by designers is to convert a natural language based requirement specification (or corresponding UML based representation) into a predominantly computer language based design model—thus the process is very complex as there is a very large gap between our natural language and computer language. Moreover, this is not just a simple language conversion, but rather a complex knowledge conversion that can lead to meaningful design implementation. In this paper, we describe an automated method to map Requirement Model to Design Model and thus automate/partially automate the Structured Design (SD) process. We believe, this is the first logical step in mapping a more complex requirement specification to design model. We call it IRTDM (Intelligent Agent based requirement model to design model mapping). The main theme of IRTDM is to use some AI (Artificial Intelligence) based algorithms, semantic representation using Ontology or Predicate Logic, design structures using some well known design framework and Machine Learning algorithms for learning over time. Semantics help convert natural language based requirement specification (and associated UML representation) into high level design model followed by mapping to design structures. AI method can also be used to convert high level design structures into lower level design which then can be refined further by some manual and/or semi automated process. We emphasize that automation is one of the key ways to minimize the software cost, and is very important for all, especially, for the “Design for the Bottom 90% People” or BOP (Base of the Pyramid People).展开更多
In this technical paper, the oxidation mechanism and kinetics of aluminum powders are discussed in great details. The potential applications of spherical aluminum powders after oxidation to be part of the surging arre...In this technical paper, the oxidation mechanism and kinetics of aluminum powders are discussed in great details. The potential applications of spherical aluminum powders after oxidation to be part of the surging arresting materials are discussed. Theoretical calculations of oxidation of spherical aluminum powders in a typical gas fluidization bed are demonstrated. Computer software written by the author is used to carry out the basic calculations of important parameters of a gas fluidization bed at different temperatures. A mathematical model of the dynamic system in a gas fluidization bed is developed and the analytical solution is obtained. The mathematical model can be used to estimate aluminum oxide thickness at a defined temperature. The mathematical model created in this study is evaluated and confirmed consistently with the experimental results on a gas fluidization bed. Detail technical discussion of the oxidation mechanism of aluminum is carried out. The mathematical deviations of the mathematical modeling have demonstrated in great details. This mathematical model developed in this study and validated with experimental results can bring a great value for the quantitative analysis of a gas fluidization bed in general from a theoretical point of view. It can be applied for the oxidation not only for aluminum spherical powders, but also for other spherical metal powders. The mathematical model developed can further enhance the applications of gas fluidization technology. In addition to the development of mathematical modeling of a gas fluidization bed reactor, the formation of oxide film through diffusion on both planar and spherical aluminum surfaces is analyzed through a thorough mathematical deviation using diffusion theory and Laplace transformation. The dominant defects and their impact to oxidation of aluminum are also discussed in detail. The well-controlled oxidation film on spherical metal powders such as aluminum and other metal spherical powders can potentially become an important part of switch devices of surge arresting materials, in general.展开更多
In this paper, we identify a set of factors that may be used to forecast software productivity and software development time. Software productivity was measured in function points per person hours, and software develo...In this paper, we identify a set of factors that may be used to forecast software productivity and software development time. Software productivity was measured in function points per person hours, and software development time was measured in number of elapsed days. Using field data on over 130 field software projects from various industries, we empirically test the impact of team size, integrated computer aided software engineering (ICASE) tools, software development type, software development platform, and programming language type on the software development productivity and development time. Our results indicate that team size, software development type, software development platform, and programming language type significantly impact software development productivity. However, only team size significantly impacts software development time. Our results indicate that effective management of software development teams, and using different management strategies for different software development type environments may improve software development productivity.展开更多
When solving a mathematical problem, we sometimes encounter a situation where we can not reach a correct answer in spite of acquiring knowledge and formula necessary for the solution. The reason can be attributed to t...When solving a mathematical problem, we sometimes encounter a situation where we can not reach a correct answer in spite of acquiring knowledge and formula necessary for the solution. The reason can be attributed to the lack in metacognitive abilities. Metacognitive abilities consist of comparing the difficulty of problem with own ability, proper plan of solution process, and conscious monitoring and control of solution process. The role and importance of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem solving of permutations and combinations was explored. Participants were required to solve five practical problems related to permutations and combinations. For each problem, the solution process was divided into： （1） understanding （recognition） of mathematical problem; （2） plan of solution; （3） execution of solution. Participants were also required to rate the anticipation whether they could solve it or not, and to rate the confidence of their own answer. According to the total score of five problems, the participants were categorized into the group of the high test score and the group of the low test score. As a result, at the plan and the execution processes, statistically significant differences were detected between the high and the low score groups. As for the rating on the anticipation of result and the confidence of own answer, no significant differences were found between both groups. Moreover, the relationship between the score of plan process and the score of execution process was statistically correlated. In other words, the more proper the plan process was conducted, the more proper solution the participants reached. In such a way, the importance of metacognitive ability in the solving process, especially the plan ability, was suggested.展开更多
In the context of large language model(LLM)reshaping software engineering education,this paper presents OSSerCopilot,a LLM-based tutoring system designed to address the critical challenge faced by newcomers(especially...In the context of large language model(LLM)reshaping software engineering education,this paper presents OSSerCopilot,a LLM-based tutoring system designed to address the critical challenge faced by newcomers(especially student contributors)in open source software(OSS)communities.Leveraging natural language processing,code semantic understanding,and learner profiling,the system functions as an intelligent tutor to scaffold three core competency domains:contribution guideline interpretation,project architecture comprehension,and personalized task matching.By transforming traditional onboarding barriers-such as complex contribution documentation and opaque project structures-into interactive learning journeys,OSSerCopilot enables newcomers to complete their first OSS contribution more easily and confidently.This paper highlights how LLM technologies can redefine software engineering education by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical OSS participation,offering implications for curriculum design,competency assessment,and sustainable OSS ecosystem cultivation.A demonstration video of the system is available at https://figshare.com/articles/media/OSSerCopilot_Introduction_mp4/29510276.展开更多
In software engineering, a scenario describes an anticipated usage of a software system. As scenarios are useful to understand the requirements and functionalities of a software system, the scenario-based analysis is ...In software engineering, a scenario describes an anticipated usage of a software system. As scenarios are useful to understand the requirements and functionalities of a software system, the scenario-based analysis is widely used in various tasks, especially in the design stage of software architectures. Although researchers have proposed various scenario-based approaches to analyse software architecture, there are still limitations in this research field, and a key limitation is that scenarios are typically not formally defined and thus may contain ambiguities. As these ambiguities may lead to defects, it is desirable to reduce them as many as possible. In order to reduce ambiguity in scenario-based software architecture analysis, this paper introduces a creative computing approach to scenario-based software requirements analysis. Our work expands this idea in three directions. Firstly, we extend an architecture description language(ADL)-based language – Breeze/ADL to model the software architecture. Secondly, we use a creative rule – combinational rule(CR) to combine the vector clock algorithm for reducing the ambiguities in modelling scenarios. Then, another creative rule – transformational rule(TR) is employed to help to transform our Breeze/ADL model to a popular model – unified modelling language(UML) model. We implement our approach as a plugin of Breeze, and illustrate a running example of modelling a poetry to music system in our case study.Our results show the proposed creative approach is able to reduce ambiguities of the software architecture in practice.展开更多
Aims: This study aims at designing and implementing syllabus-oriented question-bank system that is capable of producing paper-based exams with multiple forms along with answer keys. The developed software tool is nam...Aims: This study aims at designing and implementing syllabus-oriented question-bank system that is capable of producing paper-based exams with multiple forms along with answer keys. The developed software tool is named Χ(Chi)-Pro Milestone and supports four types of questions, namely: Multiple-choice, True/False, Short-Answer and Free-Response Essay questions. The study is motivated by the fact that student number in schools and universities is continuously growing at high, non-linear, and uncontrolled rates. This growth, however, is not accompanied by an equivalent growth of educational resources (mainly: instructors, classrooms, and labs). A direct result of this situation is having relatively large number of students in each classroom. It is observed that providing and using online-examining systems could be intractable and expensive. As an alternative, paper-based exams can be used. One main issue is that manually produced paper-based exams are of low quality because of some human factors such as instability and relatively narrow range of topics [1]. Further, it is observed that instructors usually need to spend a lot of time and energy in composing paper-based exams with multiple forms. Therefore, the use of computers for automatic production of paper-based exams from question banks is becoming more and more important. Methodology: The design and evaluation of X-Pro Milestone are done by considering a basic set of design principles that are based on a list of identified Functional and Non-Functional Requirements. Deriving those requirements is made possible by developing X-Pro Milestone using the Iterative and Incremental model from software engineering domain. Results: We demonstrate that X-Pro Milestone has a number of excellent characteristics compared to the exam-preparation and question banks tools available in market. Some of these characteristics are: ease of use and operation, user-friendly interface and good usability, high security and protection of the question bank-items, high stability, and reliability. Further, X-Pro Milestone makes initiating, maintaining and archiving Question-Banks and produced exams possible. Putting X-Pro Milestone into real use has showed that X-Pro Milestone is easy to be learned and effectively used. We demonstrate that X-Pro Milestone is a cost-effective alternative to online examining systems with more and richer features and with low infrastructure requirements.展开更多
文摘Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specification/modeling and the design, and try to find a good match between them. The key task done by designers is to convert a natural language based requirement specification (or corresponding UML based representation) into a predominantly computer language based design model—thus the process is very complex as there is a very large gap between our natural language and computer language. Moreover, this is not just a simple language conversion, but rather a complex knowledge conversion that can lead to meaningful design implementation. In this paper, we describe an automated method to map Requirement Model to Design Model and thus automate/partially automate the Structured Design (SD) process. We believe, this is the first logical step in mapping a more complex requirement specification to design model. We call it IRTDM (Intelligent Agent based requirement model to design model mapping). The main theme of IRTDM is to use some AI (Artificial Intelligence) based algorithms, semantic representation using Ontology or Predicate Logic, design structures using some well known design framework and Machine Learning algorithms for learning over time. Semantics help convert natural language based requirement specification (and associated UML representation) into high level design model followed by mapping to design structures. AI method can also be used to convert high level design structures into lower level design which then can be refined further by some manual and/or semi automated process. We emphasize that automation is one of the key ways to minimize the software cost, and is very important for all, especially, for the “Design for the Bottom 90% People” or BOP (Base of the Pyramid People).
文摘In this technical paper, the oxidation mechanism and kinetics of aluminum powders are discussed in great details. The potential applications of spherical aluminum powders after oxidation to be part of the surging arresting materials are discussed. Theoretical calculations of oxidation of spherical aluminum powders in a typical gas fluidization bed are demonstrated. Computer software written by the author is used to carry out the basic calculations of important parameters of a gas fluidization bed at different temperatures. A mathematical model of the dynamic system in a gas fluidization bed is developed and the analytical solution is obtained. The mathematical model can be used to estimate aluminum oxide thickness at a defined temperature. The mathematical model created in this study is evaluated and confirmed consistently with the experimental results on a gas fluidization bed. Detail technical discussion of the oxidation mechanism of aluminum is carried out. The mathematical deviations of the mathematical modeling have demonstrated in great details. This mathematical model developed in this study and validated with experimental results can bring a great value for the quantitative analysis of a gas fluidization bed in general from a theoretical point of view. It can be applied for the oxidation not only for aluminum spherical powders, but also for other spherical metal powders. The mathematical model developed can further enhance the applications of gas fluidization technology. In addition to the development of mathematical modeling of a gas fluidization bed reactor, the formation of oxide film through diffusion on both planar and spherical aluminum surfaces is analyzed through a thorough mathematical deviation using diffusion theory and Laplace transformation. The dominant defects and their impact to oxidation of aluminum are also discussed in detail. The well-controlled oxidation film on spherical metal powders such as aluminum and other metal spherical powders can potentially become an important part of switch devices of surge arresting materials, in general.
文摘In this paper, we identify a set of factors that may be used to forecast software productivity and software development time. Software productivity was measured in function points per person hours, and software development time was measured in number of elapsed days. Using field data on over 130 field software projects from various industries, we empirically test the impact of team size, integrated computer aided software engineering (ICASE) tools, software development type, software development platform, and programming language type on the software development productivity and development time. Our results indicate that team size, software development type, software development platform, and programming language type significantly impact software development productivity. However, only team size significantly impacts software development time. Our results indicate that effective management of software development teams, and using different management strategies for different software development type environments may improve software development productivity.
文摘When solving a mathematical problem, we sometimes encounter a situation where we can not reach a correct answer in spite of acquiring knowledge and formula necessary for the solution. The reason can be attributed to the lack in metacognitive abilities. Metacognitive abilities consist of comparing the difficulty of problem with own ability, proper plan of solution process, and conscious monitoring and control of solution process. The role and importance of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem solving of permutations and combinations was explored. Participants were required to solve five practical problems related to permutations and combinations. For each problem, the solution process was divided into： （1） understanding （recognition） of mathematical problem; （2） plan of solution; （3） execution of solution. Participants were also required to rate the anticipation whether they could solve it or not, and to rate the confidence of their own answer. According to the total score of five problems, the participants were categorized into the group of the high test score and the group of the low test score. As a result, at the plan and the execution processes, statistically significant differences were detected between the high and the low score groups. As for the rating on the anticipation of result and the confidence of own answer, no significant differences were found between both groups. Moreover, the relationship between the score of plan process and the score of execution process was statistically correlated. In other words, the more proper the plan process was conducted, the more proper solution the participants reached. In such a way, the importance of metacognitive ability in the solving process, especially the plan ability, was suggested.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62202022, 92582204, and 62572030)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe exploratory elective projects of the State Key Laboratory of Complex and Critical Software Environments
文摘In the context of large language model(LLM)reshaping software engineering education,this paper presents OSSerCopilot,a LLM-based tutoring system designed to address the critical challenge faced by newcomers(especially student contributors)in open source software(OSS)communities.Leveraging natural language processing,code semantic understanding,and learner profiling,the system functions as an intelligent tutor to scaffold three core competency domains:contribution guideline interpretation,project architecture comprehension,and personalized task matching.By transforming traditional onboarding barriers-such as complex contribution documentation and opaque project structures-into interactive learning journeys,OSSerCopilot enables newcomers to complete their first OSS contribution more easily and confidently.This paper highlights how LLM technologies can redefine software engineering education by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical OSS participation,offering implications for curriculum design,competency assessment,and sustainable OSS ecosystem cultivation.A demonstration video of the system is available at https://figshare.com/articles/media/OSSerCopilot_Introduction_mp4/29510276.
基金partially supported by the Japam Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (Nos. 25420232 and 16K06203)
文摘In software engineering, a scenario describes an anticipated usage of a software system. As scenarios are useful to understand the requirements and functionalities of a software system, the scenario-based analysis is widely used in various tasks, especially in the design stage of software architectures. Although researchers have proposed various scenario-based approaches to analyse software architecture, there are still limitations in this research field, and a key limitation is that scenarios are typically not formally defined and thus may contain ambiguities. As these ambiguities may lead to defects, it is desirable to reduce them as many as possible. In order to reduce ambiguity in scenario-based software architecture analysis, this paper introduces a creative computing approach to scenario-based software requirements analysis. Our work expands this idea in three directions. Firstly, we extend an architecture description language(ADL)-based language – Breeze/ADL to model the software architecture. Secondly, we use a creative rule – combinational rule(CR) to combine the vector clock algorithm for reducing the ambiguities in modelling scenarios. Then, another creative rule – transformational rule(TR) is employed to help to transform our Breeze/ADL model to a popular model – unified modelling language(UML) model. We implement our approach as a plugin of Breeze, and illustrate a running example of modelling a poetry to music system in our case study.Our results show the proposed creative approach is able to reduce ambiguities of the software architecture in practice.
文摘Aims: This study aims at designing and implementing syllabus-oriented question-bank system that is capable of producing paper-based exams with multiple forms along with answer keys. The developed software tool is named Χ(Chi)-Pro Milestone and supports four types of questions, namely: Multiple-choice, True/False, Short-Answer and Free-Response Essay questions. The study is motivated by the fact that student number in schools and universities is continuously growing at high, non-linear, and uncontrolled rates. This growth, however, is not accompanied by an equivalent growth of educational resources (mainly: instructors, classrooms, and labs). A direct result of this situation is having relatively large number of students in each classroom. It is observed that providing and using online-examining systems could be intractable and expensive. As an alternative, paper-based exams can be used. One main issue is that manually produced paper-based exams are of low quality because of some human factors such as instability and relatively narrow range of topics [1]. Further, it is observed that instructors usually need to spend a lot of time and energy in composing paper-based exams with multiple forms. Therefore, the use of computers for automatic production of paper-based exams from question banks is becoming more and more important. Methodology: The design and evaluation of X-Pro Milestone are done by considering a basic set of design principles that are based on a list of identified Functional and Non-Functional Requirements. Deriving those requirements is made possible by developing X-Pro Milestone using the Iterative and Incremental model from software engineering domain. Results: We demonstrate that X-Pro Milestone has a number of excellent characteristics compared to the exam-preparation and question banks tools available in market. Some of these characteristics are: ease of use and operation, user-friendly interface and good usability, high security and protection of the question bank-items, high stability, and reliability. Further, X-Pro Milestone makes initiating, maintaining and archiving Question-Banks and produced exams possible. Putting X-Pro Milestone into real use has showed that X-Pro Milestone is easy to be learned and effectively used. We demonstrate that X-Pro Milestone is a cost-effective alternative to online examining systems with more and richer features and with low infrastructure requirements.
