The ISO/IEC 29110 Software Lifecycle Standard for Very Small Companies

For many small and start-up software companies, implementing controls and structures to properly manage their software development activity is a major challenge. It is commonly agreed that very small software companies, implementing management procedures, and controls to appropriately administer their software development activity is a significant challenge. To help meet the need for VSE-specific systems and software lifecycle profiles and guidelines, the ISO/IEC jointly published ISO/IEC 29110 “Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities” series of standards and guides, with the overall objective being to assist and encourage very small software organization in assessing and improving their software. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a primer on the ISO/IEC 29110 standard focusing on two main process areas of Project Management and Software Implementation.

A critical analysis of anarchist critiques of the Field of “Solidarity and Cooperative Economy” in Greece

In this article, we explore the critiques developed by the anarchist social movement towards the “Solidarity and Cooperative Economy” in Greece. Initially, we outline the genealogy of the structural connection governing the “solidarity” economy with the development of contemporary social movements worldwide. Then, through the indexing of anarchist publications, we proceed to focus on two main anarchist critiques emphasizing on the economic and political problems of a “solidarity” economy which, in turn lead to the construction of the political position that refutes the interrelation of social movements with the field of alternative economy. We also outline the economic and political theory of classic anarchist thinkers: Kropotkin, Proudhon and Bakunin and we reappraise the critiques of the contemporary Greek anarchist movement based on these thinkers. Ultimately, the paper seeks to detect the points of convergence between the “Solidarity and Cooperative Economy” and contemporary anarchist movement. Deeming the practice of self-management as the principal interface between the anarchist thought and the organisation of networks and communities that constitute the “Solidarity and Cooperative Economy”, the present article calls for reflection and re-evaluation of these critiques with the ultimate objective being the delineation of new areas of political antagonism with capitalist structures and social change.

The Function of Aβ in the Healthy Brain: Beta Amyloid as an Antimicrobial Protein

There is no question as to whether or not the beta amyloid (Aβ) peptide plays a role in the exacerbation and onset of AD. There are very evident correlations between the volume of Aβ deposition in the AD brain and the severity of the symptoms of AD-typical neurodegeneration. There are certainly many factors involved in the progression of AD, of which the aggregation of Aβ peptides is only one. While many have ruminated on the mechanism by which Aβ serves to impair synaptic function and contribute to neurodegeneration, the role of this protein has yet to be fully uncovered, not just in the AD brain, but in the normally functioning brain as well. Recent research has shed light on the role of Aβ in the normal brain, offering evidence for the fact that beta amyloid functions as an antimicrobial protein, with its primary objective being to serve an immunoresponsive purpose. This text will highlight some of the critical studies on the topic, and illuminate the role that Aβ most likely plays in the functioning of the normal brain, and how this influences its pathological deposition in the AD brain.

Evaluation of rheological performance of a local modified bitumen by Styrene Butadiene Styrene polymer used in wearing course

In road construction, bitumen is the binder that gathered the different aggregates of road pavements. Bitumen, as a viscoelastic material, influences considerably the rheological behavior of bitumen concrete. The bitumen used in Algeria, showed its limits face to the traffic, which is increasing continuously. This research aims to valorize SBS polymer in wearing course by modifying a pure 35/50 bitumen. The present paper aims to study the polymer derived from styrene and butadiene (SBS) from the company Kraton Polymers International Ltd in the modification of a bitumen to improve its mechanical characteristics.To this end, the incorporation of SBS polymer was carried out according to two contents: 5.0 and 7.5% (by weight of asphalt), the objective being to evaluate the influence of this type of polymer on the rheological properties of the bitumen ordinary road including viscosity and modulus.The results reveal that the bitumen modified with 7.5% of SBS has better mechanical performance on the rigidity and the elasticity compared to the conventional bitumen. Recommendations have been made to implement a bitumen modification system to improve its quality and therefore the durability of bituminous pavements in the south of Algeria.

Reforms in Times of Crisis: Notes on the Greek Policy Making from Bankruptcy to COVID-19

In this paper, an in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis of the “emergency” regulation in Greece over the years of acute economic crisis and up to the COVID-19 public health crisis is performed, to examine if this kind of regulation has been too extended and whether it undermined any effective policy design. According to our working hypothesis, the “fast-track” legislation highlights the fragmented and somewhat erratic way of policymaking in Greece, while it also affirms the country’s limited capacity to properly initiate and implement reforms. Thus, the paper focuses on the collection and evaluation of the legislative corpus during the 2009-2021 period; its objective being, on the one hand, to evaluate whether and how much each government resorted to the invocation of urgency and on the other hand to examine the documentation and description of the legislative process vis-àvis the imperatives and quality criteria of Better Regulation and EvidenceBased Policy Making. At the same time, the article focuses on legislative texts of the 2020-2021 COVID-19 health crisis period. It will showcase the latter as an additional trigger aggravating the “urgency” element of regulation, transforming it into a persistent feature of Greek policymaking. Ergo, we examine methods and practices at the international level, focusing especially on the Evidence-Based Policy Making paradigm. Based on the analysis of the crisis regulation and international EBPM best practices, the paper concludes with key recommendations for an effective policymaking procedure, dependent on the establishment of an integrated Center of Government in Greece.

Synthesis of New Hybrid Derivatives from Metronidazole and Eugenol Analogues as Trypanocidal Agents

Background: The search for new drug compounds is always challenging and there are several different strategies that involve the most varied and creative approaches in medicinal chemistry. One of them is the technique of molecular hybridisation: forming a hybrid compound from two or more pharmacophoric subunits. These hybrids may maintain the characteristics of the original compound and preferably show improvements to its pharmacological action, with reduced side effects and lower toxicity when compared to the original components. This study specifically focuses on synthesising hybrid molecules which demonstrate trypanocidal activity against the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Methods: In this context, this study centres on the synthesis of a novel structural scaffold via molecular hybridisation; by using a triazole species to link a metronidazole unit to a eugenol analogue unit, the objective being to combine their therapeutic properties into a new molecular structure. The resulting hybrid molecules were evaluated against T. cruzi which is responsible for high incidences of trypanosomiasis in tropical countries such as Brazil. Results: The results of this study showed an improvement in the anti-parasitic activity of the hybrid compounds with the best result coming from hybrid compounds [8] and [9], which present an activity similar to the control drug benznidazole. The new compounds, utilising a triazole species as a coupling connector, demonstrated promising results and has highlighted the path for planning similar structural patterns to investigate new compounds. Conclusions: In summary, we can conclude that the synthesised hybrid compounds demonstrate that using a triazole to link metronidazole with natural phenols, produces hybrid molecules that are promising as a new class of compounds of therapeutic interest for further investigation.

Noise canceling to compute second order statistic from SPIV

Stereoscopic PIV (SPIV) is performed near the wall in a turbulent boundary layer at high Reynolds numbers (Reτ = 2272, 3840) in the streamwise-wallnormal plane. A novel method for denoising the statistics is proposed by the use to two independent SPIV systems to capture the same field of view, with the objective being that the random noise associated with the velocity fluctuations are not correlated between two independent PIV systems. The derivatives in the third (spanwise) direction are obtained by axisymmetry assumptions [George and Hussein (1991)] and continuity equation. The statistics are in agreement with that of DNS at comparable Reynolds number, from y + = 25 for lower Reτ experiment and from y + = 40 for higher Reτ experiment.

A novel laboratory pushing the limits for optics-based basic turbulence investigations

Developments in theoretical investigations and experimental techniques are reaching a level of maturity for which it is finally becoming possible to answer some of the most pressing questions in turbulence. The prevailing classical theories all have their strengths and drawbacks based on their respective principal assumptions. To better understand the implications of these assumptions, we have developed a theoryintensive experimental strategy. For these purposes, a laboratory has been established at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark. The objective being to provide the data necessary to test the (bounds of) validity of the existing theories; Most prominently the classical Richardson-Kolmogorov-Batchelor paradigm, but also other generally adopted views such as Rapid Distortion Theory and Equilibrium Similarity. The measurements will be analyzed within a novel theoretical framework that enables not only quantification of the degree to which the small and intermediate scale turbulence behaves according to the existing theories (and their central assumptions), but also unveiling the underlying processes that create the respective state of turbulent flow. The present work will describe the current state of the developments of building up the laboratory.

Main Targets of Interest for the Development of a Prophylactic or Therapeutic Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most widespread viruses in the world; more than 90% of the planet’s adult population is infected. Symptomatic primary infection by this Herpesviridae corresponds to infectious mononucleosis (IM), which is generally a benign disease. While virus persistence is often asymptomatic, it is responsible for 1.5% of cancers worldwide, mainly B cell lymphomas and carcinomas. EBV may also be associated with autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases. However, no effective treatment or anti-EBV vaccine is currently available. Knowledge of the proteins and mechanisms involved in the different steps of the viral cycle is essential to the development of effective vaccines. The present review describes the main actors in the entry of the virus into B cells and epithelial cells, which are targets of interest in the development of prophylactic vaccines aimed at preventing viral infection. This review also summarizes the first vaccinal approaches tested in humans, all of which are based on the gp350/220 glycoprotein; while they have reduced the risk of IM, they have yet to prevent EBV infection. The main proteins involved in the EBV latency cycle and some of the proteins involved in the lytic cycle have essential roles in the oncogenesis of EBV. For that reason, these proteins are of interest for the development of therapeutic vaccines of which the objective is the stimulation of T cell immunity against EBV-associated cancers. New strategies aimed at broadening the antigenic spectrum, are currently being studied and will contribute to the targeting of the essential steps of the viral cycle, the objective being to prevent or treat the diseases associated with EBV.

Experimental investigation of preload losses in high strength bolts under cyclic loading

Slip-resistant shear connections with preloaded bolts have traditionally been used in steel structures exposed to cyclic / fatigue loading or in cases when bolt slipping or connection deformations should be restricted. Hence, shear load is transferred through friction surfaces rather than through contact between the bolt surface and the hole. The main influencing parameters determining slip resistance of the connection are the friction between contact surfaces and the bolt preload level. This paper presents an experimental study of preloaded bolted connections under cyclic load, the main objective being to investigate the influence of cyclic load on the losses of preload force in high strength bolts and lock bolts.