CAN CLIMATE KNOWLEDGE LEAD TO BETTER RURAL POLICIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES?

In many parts of the world, climate is one of the biggest risk factors impacting on agricultural systems performance and management. Climate variability (CV) and climate change (CC) contributes to the vulnerability of individuals, businesses, communities and regions. Extreme climate events such as severe droughts, floods, cyclones or temperature shocks often strongly impede sustainable agricultural development. Targeted and appropriately conceptualised climate knowledge (including seasonal climate forecasting and scenario analyses) can increase overall preparedness and lead to better social, economic and environmental outcomes. Climate variability occurs over a wide range of temporal scales. Our increasing understanding of the underlaying mechanisms means that some of that variability is now predictable. Research efforts are directed towards investigating phenomena such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO; 30-60 days), ENSO related variability (2.5 - 8 years), decadal and multidecadal climate variability and climate change

Software test selection patterns and elusive bugs

Traditional white and black box testing methods are effective in revealing many kinds of defects, but the more elusive bugs slip past them. Model-based testing incorporates additional application concepts in the selection of tests, which may provide more refined bug detection, but does not go far enough. Test selection patterns identify defect-oriented contexts in a program. They also identify suggested tests for risks associated with a specified context. A context and its risks is a kind of conceptual trap designed to corner a bug. The suggested tests will find the bug if it has been caught in the trap