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Software engineering is gravely hampered by immature practices. Specific problems include: The prevalence of fads more typical of the fashion industry than an engineering discipline; a huge number of methods and method variants, with differences little understood and artificially magnified; the lack of credible experimental evaluation and validation; and the split between industry practice and academic research. At the root of the problems we lack a sound, widely accepted theoretical basis. A prime example of such a basis is Maxwell’s equations in electrical engineering. It is difficult to fathom what electrical engineering would be today without those four concise equations. They are a great example to the statement “There is nothing so practical as a good theory”. In software engineering we have nothing similar, and there is widespread doubt whether it is needed. This talk will argue for the need of a basic theory in software engineering, a theory identifying its pure essence, its common ground or its kernel. The Semat (Software Engineering Methods and Theory) community addresses this huge challenge. It supports a process to refound software engineering based on a kernel of widely-agreed elements, extensible for specific uses, addressing both technology and people issues. This kernel represents the essence of software engineering. This talk promises to make you see the light in the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is very important to reduce the possibility of spatial disorientation because spatial disorientation is a major cause of aircraft crashes. In this research, we assess the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on spatial cognitive function by measuring physiological signals, including brain waves measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Through physiological signals such as brain waves, we can objectively understand a subject's cognitive state. Moreover, we use virtual reality technology to build 3D scenery that provides navigation clues in an environment with no visual reference frame. Using the virtual environment, we confirm that TENS lessens spatial disorientation. Across subjects and sessions, the parietal component of brain activity exhibited baseline elevation predominantly in the theta (4–7 Hz) and alpha (8–12 Hz) band as the subjects navigated. This study also found that subjects performed better after TENS in terms of behavioral and EEG data. The results facilitate understanding of the cognitive function of maintaining spatial orientation and development of a device for assisting pilots and reducing the occurrence of spatial disorientation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Performed work on the modernization of the detecting system of the separator VASSILISSA. In order to improve the efficiency of registration of conversion electrons were installed new DSSD, containing 48 strips on each side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed spectroscopic information of excited nuclear states in deformed transfermium nuclei is scarce. Most of the information available today has been obtained from investigations of fine structure α decay. Although α decay gives access to hindrance factors and lifetimes which are strongly correlated to shell/subshell closures and the presence of isomers, only the combined use of γ and conversion electron spectroscopy allows the precise determination of excitation energy, spin and parity of nuclear levels. In particular, the study of odd isotopes gives crucial information on the single particle states available at and around the Fermi surface. In the following, the preliminary results of decay studies using α - γ and α - beta coincidences at the focal plane of the VASSILISSA recoil separator are presented. © 2007 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the modes B → ππ and B → ρρ and their implications on the angle a of the CKM unitarity triangle are presented. Results of the Dalitz analysis of the modes B → D(*)0K(*) and the derived constraints on the angle γ are then shown. These measurements are based on a sample of approximately 230.106 B pairs taken at the Υ(4S) resonance collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy beam factory at SLAC. © 2006 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary form only given. Wire-guided transport is under investigation to determine its suitability for the LMF facility. This scheme uses a small-diameter current-carrying wire to produce the azimuthal field that provides radial confinement of the beam ions. A neutral gas surrounds the wire to provide charge- and current-neutralization of the ion beam during propagation in the transport system. The return current for the central wire is carried by a concentric array of wires outside the ion beam. The transport characteristics are being investigated with proton beams from the US Naval Research Laboratory Gamble II accelerator. Of particular interest are beam transport efficiency, beam expansion after transport, and the effects of the return current wire geometry. The 19F(p,αγ)16O and 7Li(p,γ), 63Cu(γ,n)62Cu nuclear reactions from the proton beam striking a LiF target are used concurrently to determine the transport efficiency of the ion beam, while shadowbox techniques are used to sample the phase-space distribution of the ion beam [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]