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As more domain-specific languages (DSLs) are designed and developed, the need to evaluate these languages becomes an essential part of the overall DSL life cycle. Corpus-based analysis can serve as an evaluation mechanism to identify characteristics of the language after it has been deployed by looking at how end-users employ it in practice. This analysis that is based on actual usage of the language brings a new perspective which can be considered by a language engineer when working toward improving the language. In this paper, we describe our utilization of corpus-based analysis techniques and exemplify them on the evaluation of the Puppet and ATL DSLs. We also outline an Eclipse plug-in, which is a generic corpus-based DSL analysis tool that can accommodate the evaluation of different DSLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a brief review of methods of qualitative and quantitative study of various classes of stochastic systems with aftereffect. We describe schemes of analysis of stochastic ordinary and partial differential and integrodifferential equations, which are also applicable for their deterministic analogs. These numerical and analytical schemes are implemented in the software package Mathematica and in the language Intel Fortran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of hybrid systems is well-established as a model for real-world systems consisting of continuous behaviour and discrete control. In practice, the behaviour of such systems is also subject to uncertainties, such as measurement errors, or is controlled by randomised algorithms. These aspects can be modelled and analysed using stochastic hybrid systems. In this paper, we present HModest, an extension to the Modest modelling language-which is originally designed for stochastic timed systems without complex continuous aspects-that adds differential equations and inclusions as an expressive way to describe the continuous system evolution. Modest is a high-level language inspired by classical process algebras, thus compositional modelling is an integral feature. We define the syntax and semantics of HModest and show that it is a conservative extension of Modest that retains the compositional modelling approach. To allow the analysis of HModest models, we report on the implementation of a connection to recently developed tools for the safety verification of stochastic hybrid systems, and illustrate the language and the tool support with a set of small, but instructive case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present and analyze a fast algorithm that determines the possible molecular formulae corresponding to the resolved peaks in the spectral data obtained from a mass analyzer like an FT-ICR-MS. In contrast to our approach, most known algorithms and software that attempt to solve this important problem are brute-force in nature and consequently, highly prone to combinatorial explosion when dealing with the volume of real data. We also present an object-oriented implementation of our algorithm in a general-purpose, user-friendly, interactive, and easily extensible software tool PG C ompound M atch F inder. A run-time performance analysis of our software shows that even when dealing with several billion theoretical possibilities matched against tens of thousands of resolved peaks, a complete analysis using today’s standard desktop machines can take only a few minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One key to several quality factors of software is the way components are connected. Software coupling can be used to estimate a number of quality factors, including maintainability, complexity, and reliability. Object-oriented languages are designed to reduce the number of dependencies among classes, which encourages separation of concerns and should reduce the amount of coupling. At the same time, the object-oriented language features change the way the connections are made, how they must be analyzed, and how they are measured. This paper discusses software couplings based on object-oriented relationships between classes, specifically focusing on types of couplings that are not available until after the implementation is completed, and presents a static analysis tool that measures couplings among classes in Java packages. Data from evaluating the tool on several open-source projects are provided. The coupling measurement is based on source code, which has the advantage of being quantitative and more precise than previous measures, but the disadvantage of not being available before implementation, and thus not useful for some predictive efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Object Constraint Language (OCL) is a notational language for analysis and design of software systems, which is used in conjunction with the Unified Modelling Language (UML) to specify the semantics of the building blocks precisely. OCL can also be used by other languages, notations, methods and software tools in order to specify restrictions and other expressions of their models. Likewise, OCL is used by the Object Management Group (OMG) in the definition of other fast spreading industrial standards such as Meta Object Facility (MOF) or XML Metadata Interchange (XMI). Support tools aimed at making this language easier to use are becoming available. These tools are capable of supporting and handling OCL expressions. This paper presents a comparative study of the main tools currently available, both commercial and freely available ones. The study is very practical, with the advantages and disadvantages of the different tools being pointed out. The evaluations made may be of use in helping those developers and analysts who already use the language, as well as those who intend to use it in the near future, to choose the OCL tool which best adapts to their requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) carotid standardised uptake values (SUV) of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) have been proposed as an inflammatory biomarker for determining cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke. Consideration of varying methodological approaches and software packages is critical to the calculation of accurate SUVs in cross-sectional and longitudinal patient studies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not carotid atherosclerotic plaque SUVs are consistent and reproducible between software packages. FDG-PET SUVs of carotids were taken in 101 patients using two different software packages. Quality assurance checks were performed to standardise techniques before commencing the analysis where data from five to seven anatomical sites were measured. A total of ten regions of interest were drawn on each site analysed. Statistical analyses were then performed to compare SUV measurements from the two software packages and to explore reproducibility of measurements. Lastly, the time taken to complete each analysis was measured and compared. Results: Statistically significant differences in SUV measurements, between the two software packages, ranging from 9 to 21.8% were found depending on ROI location. In 79% ( n = 23) of the ROI locations, the differences between the SUV measurements from each software package were found to be statistically significant. The time taken to perform the analyses and export data from the software packages also varied considerably. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of standardising all aspects of methodological approaches to ensure accuracy and reproducibility. Physicians must be aware that when a PET-CT data set is analysed, subsequent follow-ups must be verified, if possible, with the same software package or cross-calibration between packages should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate a new method for automated definition of a center lumen line in vessels in cardiovascular image data. This method, called VAMPIRE, is based on improved detection of vessel-like structures. A multiobserver evaluation study was conducted involving 40 tracings in clinical CTA data of carotid arteries to compare VAMPIRE with an established technique. This comparison showed that VAMPIRE yields considerably more successful tracings and improved handling of stenosis, calcifications, multiple vessels, and nearby bone structures. We conclude that VAMPIRE is highly suitable for automated definition of center lumen lines in vessels in cardiovascular image data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]