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Assessing User eXperience (UX) maturity is mandatory in the free and open-source software (FOSS) community to avoid wasting resources on projects that may fall short of expectations. Best practices suggest employing UX Capability Maturity Models (UXCMMs), which often specify an evolutionary plateau toward developing a UX-matured system and quantify organizational UX maturity into maturity levels ranging from no or ad hoc improvement to integrated continuous improvement. Numerous generically developed UXCMMs exist. However, none is created for the FOSS community, and less information is available to support their perfect match. Thus, raise suspicions if they have proper UX maturity influencing factors (UXMIFs) for the FOSS community or measure the right thing. The FOSS community differs from traditional software-developing communities and may have different dynamics and UXMIFs, necessitating unique and new methodologies for their discovery. This study, therefore, aims to identify the FOSS community's UXMIFs and evaluate the community's knowledge of UX maturity-related concepts. Its findings may help future researchers, practitioners, and other FOSS developers to develop UXCMMs exclusive to the FOSS community. The study's design is both qualitative and quantitative. It adopted a systematic literature review, interviews, fuzzy Delphi Method, and thematic analysis to collect and analyze data and present the findings. The study's sample included sixty-two active FOSS projects, fifteen FOSS stakeholders, and twelve UX experts. The outcome shows that 84% of UX experts agreed on the thirty-six FOSS's UXMIFs with threshold d = 0.143 and crisp values greater than α-cut = 0.5. User feedback and adopted technologies were ranked first, while learnability and use speed were ranked last. Similarly, FOSS stakeholders have shown a shared understanding of UX maturity, connected concepts, and impacting factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a working methodology for the design and management of construction projects that facilitates collaboration and communication between the different parties involved. It is based on the digital three-dimensional representation of infrastructures within the field of architecture and civil engineering. The generated models are true data containers, capable of storing the geometric and semantic information necessary to support the design, construction and maintenance operations of the assets. This methodology promotes data exchange between different software tools through interoperability and the use of standards. Usually in the development of projects throughout their life cycle, commercial, closed-source BIM software is used. This generally leads to limitations in interoperability and data reuse. This paper details advances in the use of Blender, a free and open-source software (FOSS), to support BIM workflows in construction projects. The paper addresses the automation of the process to export a 3D Blender model to a BIM model in IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). The IFC Class Assignment add-on is developed, which allows the automated assignment of IFC classes to the different elements of the 3D model in Blender to convert it into a BIM model, using scripts written in Python. The proposed extension is able to generate, in an agile and simple way, digital models in IFC4, adequately storing the geometric and semantic information of its components. The results provide a tool that contributes to automate the creation of BIM models in an open-source software such as Blender, simplifying modelling processes and supporting collaboration and standardisation in architectural and engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Software Heritage (SWH) dataset represents an invaluable source of open-source code as it aims to collect, preserve, and share all publicly available software in source code form ever produced by humankind. Although designed to archive deduplicated small files thanks to the use of a Merkle tree as the underlying data structure, querying the SWH dataset presents challenges due to the nature of these structures, which organize content based on hash values rather than any locality principle. The magnitude of the repository, coupled with the resource-intensive nature of the download process, highlights the need for specialized infrastructure and computational resources to effectively handle and study the extensive dataset housed within SWH. Currently, there is a lack of infrastructures specifically tailored for running analytics on the SWH dataset, leaving users to handle these issues manually. To address these challenges, we implemented the SWH-Analytics (SWHA) framework, a development environment that transparently runs custom analytic applications on publicly available software data preserved over time by SWH. Specifically, this work shows how SWHA can be effectively exploited to study usage patterns of free and open-source software licenses, highlighting the need to improve license literacy among developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, several methods have been developed for Local Climate Zone (LCZ) mapping, encompassing Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) −based procedures. Combined approaches have also been proposed to compensate for intrinsic limitations that characterized their separate application. Recent work has disclosed the potential of hyperspectral satellite imagery for improving LCZ identification. However, the use of hyperspectral data for LCZ mapping is yet to be fully unfolded. A combined Remote Sensing and GIS-based method for LCZ mapping is proposed to exploit the integration of hyperspectral PRISMA and multispectral Sentinel-2 images with ancillary urban canopy parameter layers. Random Forest algorithm is applied to the feature sets to obtain the LCZ classification. The method is tested on the Metropolitan City of Milan (Italy), for the period from February to August 2023. A spectral separability analysis is carried out to investigate the improvement in LCZ identification using PRISMA in comparison to Sentinel-2 data, as well as improvements in LCZ spectral separability on PRISMA pan-sharpened images. The resulting maps’ quality is evaluated by extracting accuracy metrics and performing inter-comparisons with maps computed from the LCZ Generator benchmark tool. Inter-comparisons yield promising results with a mean Overall Accuracy increase of 16% using PRISMA for each LCZ class. Furthermore, we find that PRISMA improves the detection of LCZs compared to Sentinel-2, with a mean Overall Accuracy increase of 5%, in line with the higher spectral separability of PRISMA spectral signatures computed on the training samples.

The popularity of User Experience (UX) is exponentially mounting because it predicts users' engagement through satisfying needs. It further determines product success, revenues augmentation, employee gratifications, user errors, and vital supports. However, contemporary UX Capability Maturity Models (UXCMMs) do not adequately address Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) UX, a substantiated root of adoption misfortune. Improving UX may result from a precise appraisal of the as-is organisational status. Although Software Engineering endorses CMMI, ISO 15504/ISO/IECTS 33061 and UXCMMs for this judgement, none has processes for evaluating FOSSs' UX. Moreover, the FOSS community has neither theories nor hypotheses to map UXCMMs' formulation processes. It knows very little regarding their practical applicability, which leaves functional relevance uncertainties. In retorting to present uncertainties, this study accomplished the Systematic Literature Review and encountered eight pertinent articles. They show that most UXCMMs originated from recognised models. Moreover, neither developed nor validated experimentally, used similar methodologies with patched documents and are not exclusive for the FOSS community. They neither handle challenges properly nor reflect earlier studies' endorsements. The study's contributions to discovered gaps include proposing additional research areas and a FOSS-specific UXCMMs development checklist to identify UX metrics and standardise UXCMMs' development processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a new free and open-source computer platform that is capable of performing power flow simulations, balanced and unbalanced short-circuits, besides transitory and dynamic stability studies with user-defined controls. The software, called Power Systems Platform from the Federal University of Uberlândia (PSP-UFU), has as its goal to aid in the areas of research and education. Through an interface aligned with the CAD tool, the construction of any electric network and control system is permitted by the directing of visual elements. Standard software architecture was used in the development of the platform, as well as standardisation and documentation, which are necessary practices for an understanding into the source code and software development by third parties. The software possesses an excellent computational performance and a friendly and intuitive interface, which all go on to make it ideal for educational applications in electric power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we consider a compartmental epidemic mathematical model given by a system of differential equations. We provide a complete toolkit for performing both a symbolic and numerical analysis of the spreading of COVID-19. By using the free and open-source programming language Python and the mathematical software SageMath, we contribute for the reproducibility of the mathematical analysis of the stability of the equilibrium points of epidemic models and their fitting to real data. The mathematical tools and codes can be adapted to a wide range of mathematical epidemic models.

• Preparing to achieve higher levels of UX maturity of desktop-based FOSS projectsis imperative for the projects' success. • The FOSS community has limited studies,techniques, and analytical lenses forassessing its preparation for projects achieving higher levels of UX maturity. • The Current preparation interventions are not consistently applied across projects and lack methodological rigor. • This study adopted the fuzzy delphi method to create and rank ten (10) lenses to determine the preparation of the desktop-based FOSS projects to achieve higher levels of UX maturity. • Recommendations and suggestions for future studies derived from the results are presented. User eXperience (UX) significantly influences the success of free and open source software (FOSS) projects and is measured using UX capability maturity models (UXCMMs). Every organization desires higher levels of UX maturity; however, it requires upfront preparations and process quality control. Harmonizing processes and analytical lenses for determining preparation for UX maturity are still challenging, and studies to create them are limited. The analysis is ad hoc and based on the actors' will and experiences. This study proposes and validates analytical lenses. Findings show that UX experts agreed that the lenses could be used with a consensus percentage of 81 %, the threshold value (d) = 0.112, and crisp values greater than α-cut = 0.5. On validation, 47.57 % of stakeholders agreed, and 52.43 % strongly agreed they were relevant. Results help evaluate the status quo and change culture and policies toward ideal preparation. Two areas are suggested for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate a conceptualised learning design for the growth of techno-pedagogic competencies among Pre-Service Teachers (PST). A teaching experiment is conducted for assessing the effectiveness of the conceptualised learning design by implementing it in a two-year teacher training programme for one year on 36 PST. The progress in the techno-pedagogic competencies' growth is measured through the self-reporting rating scale, assessment of lesson activities prepared by the PST and semi-structured interview. The result of repeated measure ANOVA statistically signifies the growth of techno-pedagogic competencies amongst PST who participated in the teaching experiment. The assessment of lesson activities further illustrated the growth of techno-pedagogic competencies. PST also reported that they have learned new ways of integrating technology into teaching and have become a more confident user of computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exergy-based methods support the identification of thermodynamic inefficiencies and the discovery of optimization potentials in thermal engineering applications. Although a large variety of simulation software is available in this field, most do not offer an integrated solution for exergy analysis. While there are commercial products on the market with such capabilities, their access for research and educational purposes is limited. The presented open-source software offers an integrated and fully automated exergy analysis tool for thermal conversion processes. In a first step, physical exergy is implemented, and the tool is then applied to three different example plants to highlight its capabilities and validate the implementation: A solar thermal power plant, a supercritical CO2 power cycle, and an air refrigeration cycle. The respective models and the results of the analyses are presented briefly. By providing the results in modern data structures, they are easily accessible and postprocessible. Future work will include chemical exergy to enable analyses of applications with conversion of matter. Additionally, the implementation of the exergoeconomic analysis and optimization is envisaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African cabinet adopted policy recommendations from the Government Information Technology Officer's Council pertaining to Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS). Even though the South African Cabinet has shown support for the use of FOSS through the enactment of a policy, the adoption of open source software in electronic records management seems to be slow. Proprietary software continues to be adopted and used by most public institutions, including local and provincial municipalities in South Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors that may influence the adoption and use of FOSS for electronic records management by South African municipalities. The study adopted a qualitative research approach to collect data from 10 purposively selected municipalities in Gauteng. Data were analysed and presented thematically to address the research question. The findings of this study suggest that municipalities in Gauteng are not adopting FOSS for electronic records management as expected. This study established that top management support, reliability, affordability of the software, inadequate capability, contracts with proprietary software providers, organisational culture and organisational support are some of the factors that contributed to the low uptake when it comes to the adoption of Free and Open-Source Software by the municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine students’ computer attitudes and experience, as well as students’ perceptions about the use of Jupyter notebook in the Electrical Engineering context, specifically in teaching Power Systems. The TAM approach is used to create a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale, with a decided midpoint of 2.5. This is used to determine the students’ degree of acceptance and perception of the Notebook as a Teaching/learning tool for a power systems course. The Standard Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) was further used for descriptive statistical analyses. Results suggest that students hold favorable computer attitudes and perception about the use of the Jupyter notebook in power systems education. However, certain factors need to be considered when making the choice of software application to be used to facilitate students’ learning. For instance, in this study, students did not consider the software to be highly useful in their future work life. Furthermore, the feedback from respondents can help software developers make informed decision about aspects of the application to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the initial stages of mitosis, multiple mechanisms drive centrosome separation and positioning. How they are coordinated to promote centrosome migration to opposite sides of the nucleus remains unclear. Here, we present Trackosome, an open-source image analysis software for tracking centrosomes and reconstructing nuclear and cellular membranes, based on volumetric live-imaging data. The toolbox runs in MATLAB and provides a graphical user interface for easy access to the tracking and analysis algorithms. It provides detailed quantification of the spatiotemporal relationships between centrosomes, nuclear envelope and cellular membrane, and can also be used to measure the dynamic fluctuations of the nuclear envelope. These fluctuations are important because they are related to the mechanical forces exerted on the nucleus by its adjacent cytoskeletal structures. Unlike previous algorithms based on circular or elliptical approximations, Trackosome measures membrane movement in a model-free condition, making it viable for irregularly shaped nuclei. Using Trackosome, we demonstrate significant correlations between the movements of the centrosomes, and identify specific oscillation modes of the nuclear envelope. Overall, Trackosome is a powerful tool that can be used to help unravel new elements in the spatiotemporal dynamics of subcellular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the quantity and quality of genomic data increases and the computational tools and infrastructure become readily available, the new algorithms provide us with new insights in the field of genomics. Traditional machine learning algorithms proved useful and new variants occurred. There is plethora of software solutions in this space based on these algorithms. A variety of genomic problems were tackled by these and are continuously studied. Emerging are a new class of algorithms based on artificial neural networks that constitute the branch of deep learning. Many solutions are proposed and modifications with useful optimizations. We conducted a review regarding machine learning applications in the field of genomics with an emphasis on deep learning algorithms and software solutions. The advantages and performances over the different data sets and the available solutions in form of software were enumerated. Where possible, a comparison either with traditional machine learning or with other similar deep learning approaches applied to the genomics field was conducted. Also, the architectures of deep learning models were of interest and presented.

FluidDyn is a project to foster open-science and open-source in the fluid dynamics community. It is thought of as a research project to channel open-source dynamics, methods and tools to do science. We propose a set of Python packages forming a framework to study fluid dynamics with different methods, in particular laboratory experiments (package fluidlab), simulations (packages fluidfft, fluidsim and fluidfoam) and data processing (package fluidimage). In the present article, we give an overview of the specialized packages of the project and then focus on the base package called fluiddyn, which contains common code used in the specialized packages. Packages fluidfft and fluidsim are described with greater detail in two companion papers [4, 5]. With the project FluidDyn, we demonstrate that specialized scientific code can be written with methods and good practices of the open-source community. The Mercurial repositories are available in Bitbucket (https://bitbucket.org/fluiddyn/). All codes are documented using Sphinx and Read the Docs, and tested with continuous integration run on Bitbucket Pipelines and Travis. To improve the reuse potential, the codes are as modular as possible, leveraging the simple object-oriented programming model of Python. All codes are also written to be highly efficient, using C++, Cython and Pythran to speedup the performance of critical functions. Funding statement: This project has indirectly benefited from funding from the foundation Simone et Cino Del Duca de l’Institut de France, the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No 647018-WATU and Euhit consortium) and the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet): 2013-5191. We have also been able to use supercomputers of CIMENT/GRICAD, CINES/GENCI (grant 2018-A0040107567) and the Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC).

In the process of indoor visual positioning and navigation, difficult points often exist in corridors, stairwells, and other scenes that contain large areas of white walls, strong consistent background, and sparse feature points. Aiming at the problem of positioning and navigation in the real physical world where the walls with sparse feature points are difficult to be filled with pictures, this paper designs a feature extraction method, ARAC (Adaptive Region Adjustment based on Consistency) using Free and Open-Source Software and tools. It divides the image into foreground and background and extracts their features respectively, to achieve not only retain positioning information but also focus more energy on the foreground area which is favourable for navigation. In the test phase, under the combined conditions of illumination, scale and affine changes, the feature matching maps by the feature extraction algorithm proposed in this paper are compared with those by SIFT and SURF. Experiments show that the number of correctly matched feature pairs obtained by ARAC is better than SIFT and SURF, and whose time of feature extraction and matching is comparable to SURF, which verifies the accuracy and efficiency of the ARAC feature extraction method.

Wildfires are increasing in size and severity across much of the western United States, exposing vulnerable wildland-urban interfaces to post-fire hazards. The Mediterranean chaparral region of Northern California contains many high sloping watersheds prone to hazardous post-fire flood events and identifying watersheds at high risk of soil loss and debris flows is a priority for post-fire response and management. Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS; aka drones) offer post-fire management teams the ability to quickly mobilize and survey burned areas with very high-resolution imagery (∼1 cm), facilitating emergency management and post-fire hazard assessment. However, adoption of this technology by hazard response teams may be hindered by complicated workflows for UAS data acquisition, image processing and analysis. We present an open-source workflow using mature Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and Python packages in a Jupyter Notebook environment that guides users through classification of true-color UAS imagery to generate high resolution burn severity maps which can then be scaled across larger watersheds using Sentinel-2 normalized burn ratio (NBR) images. Soil burn severity classifications using a weighted brightness (WB) image and Char Index (CI) generated from UAS imagery were validated with in-situ data and random stratified points, resulting in the CI having the highest overall accuracy of 87.5%. CI also displayed a marginally stronger relationship over the WB with the post-fire Sentinel-2 NBR, R2 = 0.79 and R2 = 0.78 respectively. Our methods offer the unique opportunity to standardize GIS workflows, promoting replication through transparency, while improving the user's understanding of scientific GIS functionality. • UAS can provide landscape-level burn-severity assessments, potentially lowering costs and time spent in dangerous terrain. • We present an open-source workflow that guides users through UAS burn severity classification and scaling to satellite. • Our best classification showed overall accuracy of 87.5%. • Regression modelling of UAS, and Sentinel-2 data can provide a final risk assessment product to assist post-fire management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available scientific literature reports very few microsatellite markers derived from tetraploid genomes using de novo transcriptome sequencing, mostly because their gain usually represents a major computational challenge due to complicated combinatorics during assembly of sequence reads. Here we present a novel approach for mining polymorphic microsatellite loci from transcriptome data in a tetraploid species with no reference genome available. Pairs of 114 bp long de novo sequenced transcriptome reads of Centaurium erythraea were merged into short contigs of 170-200 bp each. High accuracy assembly of the pairs of reads was accomplished by a minimum of 14 bp overlap. Sequential bioinformatics operations involved fully free and open-source software and were performed using an average personal computer. Out of the 13 150 candidate contigs harboring SSR motifs obtained in a final output, we randomly chose 16 putative markers for which we designed primers. We tested the effectiveness of the established bioinformatics approach by amplifying them in eight different taxa within the genus Centaurium having various ploidy levels (diploids, tetraploids and hexaploids). Nine markers displayed polymorphism and/or transferability among studied taxa. They provided 54 alleles in total, ranging from 2 to 14 alleles per locus. The highest number of alleles was observed in C. erythraea, C. littorale and a hybridogenic taxon C. pannonicum. The developed markers are qualified to be used in genetic population studies on declining natural populations of Centaurium species, thus providing valuable information to evolutionary and conservation biologists. The developed cost-effective methodology provides abundant de novo assembled short contigs and holds great promise to mine numerous additional EST-SSR-containing markers for possible use in genetics population studies of tetraploid taxa within the genus Centaurium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To what extent can software 'travel' to organizations and countries for which it was not designed for, and how important are local contexts for a successful design and implementation of generic software? Information systems researchers have differing views on this, some emphasizing the strengths of the generic and others the importance of contextual aspects. Contributing to this debate, Pollock and Williams have coined the term generification in order to describe how large vendors succeed in globalizing software packages through management by community, content and social authority. In this paper, we explore an approach that we call open generification, which extends Pollock and Williams' work in the sense that we acknowledge the need for and the feasibility of generic software, but propose an alternative model for the governance of it. Open generification is not about managing the community of users attached to a software package by homogenization or segmentation but aims at addressing the diverse needs of the community the software is expected to serve. Our empirical basis is a longitudinal study of the development of an open-source health information system software (District Health Information software version 2), which is being used in more than 47 countries. Its success is attributed to a continuous interplay between generic and specific software and continuous cycles of embedding (implementing the global in the local context) and disembedding (taking local innovations into the global). We identify and discuss the contingent mechanisms of this interplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed digital manufacturing of free and open-source scientific hardware (FOSH) used for scientific experiments has been shown to in general reduce the costs of scientific hardware by 90–99%. In part due to these cost savings, the manufacturing of scientific equipment is beginning to move away from a central paradigm of purchasing proprietary equipment to one in which scientists themselves download open-source designs, fabricate components with digital manufacturing technology, and then assemble the equipment themselves. This trend introduces a need for new formal design procedures that designers can follow when targeting this scientific audience. This study provides five steps in the procedure, encompassing six design principles for the development of free and open-source hardware for scientific applications. A case study is provided for an open-source slide dryer that can be easily fabricated for under $20, which is more than 300 times less than some commercial alternatives. The bespoke design is parametric and easily adjusted for many applications. By designing using open-source principles and the proposed procedures, the outcome will be customizable, under control of the researcher, less expensive than commercial options, more maintainable, and will have many applications that benefit the user since the design documentation is open and freely accessible.

This paper presents a means for the diffusion of the Self-Exciting Threshold Autoregressive (SETAR) model. Based on the Hansen (Econometrica 68(3):675-603, ) methodology, we implement a function in gretl with which estimate a SETAR model. The function is provided with a nice graphical user interface that enables the average user to estimate a SETAR model and make inference easily. The function and its use is presented by means of a case study. In addition we show more functionalities of gretl in order to perform a preliminary analysis of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concept Coding Framework (CCF) technology represents a long term commitment to develop and deliver an open infrastructure for multi-modal and multilingual language support for a wide area of applications. In this way the varying needs among several smaller groups of users of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) may be met as part of a more inclusively designed [1] mainstream environment of much broader interest. With support from the EU via the AEGIS project, a "CCF-SymbolServer" has been developed. It can be installed locally on any of the major desktop platforms (GNU/Linux, MacOS X and Windows), or online, to support many kinds of local or web based services and networked mobile systems. In any of these environments the CCF-SymbolServer can provide its multilingual and multi-modal representation services to other applications. Three such applications, developed and tested with users within AEGIS, are presented: 1) CCF-SymbolWriter, an extension for symbol support in LibreOffice/OpenOffice Writer; 2) CCF-SymbolDroid, an AAC app for Android mobile devices; 3) the new CCF supported version of Special Access to Windows (SAW6). Three current follow-up projects are briefly presented in the outline of perspectives for further research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a free and open-source geographic information system (GIS) plug-in, named PolyMorph-2D, for morphometric analysis of vector-based polygon features (PFs) in OpenJUMP. Written in Java™ programming language, the plug-in allows researchers from various earth and spatial science-related disciplines to compute morphometric parameters of 2D input vector features forming a polygon (i.e., a closed curve) which may represent outer boundaries or contours of various natural and/or man-made entities that differ in size, shape, complexity and drawing scale (e.g., craters, sinkholes, cirques, drainage basins, land parcels, buildings, lakes, ponds, peaks, pits, playas, pockmarks, coral mounds, seamounts, landslides, drumlins, islands, atolls, granular materials, mineral crystals, fossils, etc.). Using this plug-in, a number of basic tasks (e.g., calculations related to location, length, width, perimeter, radius, area, and orientation) can be performed and derived parameters (i.e., shape and size measures) of PFs (e.g., axis ratios, ellipticity, circularity, compactness, dispersion, complexity, elongation, regularity, convexity, concavity, solidity, rectangularity, roundness, and sphericity) are computed and written to input polygon layer's attribute table, through a simple point-and-click interface. The derived parameters calculated by the plug-in are invariant to the PF's location, scale (size), and rotation. The plug-in is also capable of performing aforementioned morphometric calculations on overlapping PFs with or without holes, provided they are topologically correct. The extensive data matrix (consisting of 39 parameters) obtained from this route can be further subjected to a number of multivariate statistical analysis methods to decipher underlying processes and/or environmental factors responsible for formation of these shapes and to classify them into homogeneous subtypes or typologies featuring similar characteristics. [Display omitted] • PolyMorph-2D, written in Java™, is a new GIS plug-in for the OpenJUMP software. • The host program and plug-in are free, easy-to-use, open-source and cross-platform. • Plug-in allows calculation of 39 morphometric parameters for vector-based 2D polygons. • Plug-in can also handle overlapping polygons with holes, differing in size and shape. • Plug-in has been benchmarked and validated against artificial and real-world datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of indoor visual positioning and navigation, difficult points often exist in corridors, stairwells, and other scenes that contain large areas of white walls, strong consistent background, and sparse feature points. Aiming at the problem of positioning and navigation in the real physical world where the walls with sparse feature points are difficult to be filled with pictures, this paper designs a feature extraction method, ARAC (Adaptive Region Adjustment based on Consistency) using Free and Open-Source Software and tools. It divides the image into foreground and background and extracts their features respectively, to achieve not only retain positioning information but also focus more energy on the foreground area which is favourable for navigation. In the test phase, under the combined conditions of illumination, scale and affine changes, the feature matching maps by the feature extraction algorithm proposed in this paper are compared with those by SIFT and SURF. Experiments show that the number of correctly matched feature pairs obtained by ARAC is better than SIFT and SURF, and whose time of feature extraction and matching is comparable to SURF, which verifies the accuracy and efficiency of the ARAC feature extraction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we consider a compartmental epidemic mathematical model given by a system of differential equations. We provide a complete toolkit for performing both a symbolic and numerical analysis of the spreading of COVID-19. By using the free and open-source programming language Python and the mathematical software SageMath, we contribute for the reproducibility of the mathematical analysis of the stability of the equilibrium points of epidemic models and their fitting to real data. The mathematical tools and codes can be adapted to a wide range of mathematical epidemic models.

We investigated the application of consensus scoring using the freely available and open source structure-based virtual screening docking programs AutoDock Vina, smina and idock. These individual programs and several simple consensus scoring methods were tested for their ability to identify hits against 20 DUD-E benchmark targets using the AUC and EF1 metrics. We found that all of the consensus scoring methods, however normalized, fared worse, on average, than simply using the output from a single program, smina. Additionally, the effect of a significant increase in the run time of all three programs was tested to find if a longer run time yielded improved results. Our results indicated that a longer run time than the default had little impact on the performance of these three programs or on consensus scoring methods based on their output. Thus, we have found that using the smina program alone at default settings is the best approach for researchers that do not have access to a suite of commercial docking software packages. Image 1 • Consensus scoring using Vina, smina and idock was no better than smina alone. • Increasing the run length from the default did not improve performance. • The min consensus method led to the best consensus scoring results. • The method of normalization of data had no effect on the consensus scoring results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents a new open‐source computational platform with original features capable of performing simulations for power flow, balanced and unbalanced short circuits, and harmonics, besides studies of transient and dynamic stability with user‐defined controls. The software Power System Platform of Federal University of Uberlândia (PSP‐UFU) allows for the construction of any electric transmission network and control systems through the deployment of visual elements. Its cross‐platform nature provides independence from working with a single operating system. A standard software architecture was used during the development of the platform, as well as standardization and source code documentation, practices necessary for the development of software by third parties. Test systems were built in order to validate the developed calculation tools, and the obtained results, when compared alongside well‐established commercial programs, proved to be very satisfactory. The software developed in this work aims to provide efficient computer simulation tools for research and education purposes, in addition to industrial applications in electrical power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]