Managing software engineers and their knowledge

This chapter begins by reviewing the history of software engineering as a profession, especially the so-called software crisis and responses to it, to help focus on what it is that software engineers do. This leads into a discussion of the areas in software engineering that are problematic as a basis for considering knowledge management issues. Some of the previous work on knowledge management in software engineering is then examined, much of it not actually going under a knowledge management title, but rather “learning” or “expertise”. The chapter goes on to consider the potential for knowledge management in software engineering and the different types of knowledge management solutions and strategies that might be adopted, and it touches on the crucial importance of cultural issues. It concludes with a list of challenges that knowledge management in software engineering needs to address

Device-related complications in the subcutaneous and transvenous ICD: a secondary analysis of the PRAETORIAN trial

BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) is developed to overcome lead-related complications and systemic infections, inherent to transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) therapy. The PRAETORIAN trial demonstrated that the S-ICD is non-inferior to the TV-ICD with regard to the combined primary endpoint of inappropriate shocks and complications. This prespecified secondary analysis evaluates all complications in the PRAETORIAN trial. METHODS: The PRAETORIAN trial is an international, multicenter, randomised trial in which 849 patients with an indication for ICD therapy were randomised to receive an SICD (N = 426) or TV-ICD (N = 423) and followed for a median of 49 months. Endpoints were device-related complications, lead-related complications, systemic infections and the need for invasive interventions. RESULTS: Thirty-six device-related complications occurred in 31 patients in the S-ICD group of which bleedings were the most frequent. In the TV-ICD group 49 complications occurred in 44 patients of which lead-dysfunction was most frequent (HR 0.69; P =0.11). In both groups half of all complications were within 30 days after implantation. Lead-related complications and systemic infections occurred significantly less in the S-ICD group compared to the TV-ICD group (P <0.001, P =0.03 respectively). Significantly more complications required invasive interventions in the TV-ICD group compared to the S-ICD group (8.3% vs. 4.3%, HR 0.59; P =0.047). CONCLUSIONS: This secondary analysis shows that, lead-related complications and systemic infections are more prevalent in the TV-ICD group compared to the S-ICD group. In addition, complications in the TV-ICD group were more severe as they required significantly more invasive interventions. This data contributes to shared decision making in clinical practice

Masticator space abscess derived from odontogenic infection: imaging manifestation and pathways of extension depicted by CT and MR in 30 patients

Propagation of odontogenic masticator space abscesses is insufficiently understood. The purpose was to analyse pathways of spread in 30 patients with odontogenic masticator space abscess. The imaging findings in 30 patients (CT in 30, MR in 16 patients) were retrospectively analysed. CT and MR imaging depicted a masticator space abscess within: medial pterygoid muscle in 13 patients (43.3%), lateral masseter and/or pterygoid muscle in 14 (46.7%) and superficial temporal muscle in 3 patients (10%). In the lateral masticator space intra-spatial abscess extension occurred in 7 of 14 patients (50%). The sub-masseteric space provided a pathway in seven (70%). Extra-spatial extension involved the submandibular space only in 3 of 14 patients (21.4%). Medial masticator space abscesses exhibited extra-spatial spread only. Extension affected the parapharyngeal space and/or soft palate in 7 of 13 lesions (53.8%). MR imaging in comparison to CT increased the number of abscess locations from 18 to 23 (27.8%) and regions affected by a cellular infiltrate from 12 to 16 (33.3%). The sub-masseteric space served as a previously underestimated pathway for intra-spatial propagation of lateral masticator abscesses. Medial masticator space abscesses tend to display early extra-spatial parapharyngeal space and/or soft palate extension

The Rise of Computing Research in East Africa: The Relationship Between Funding, Capacity and Research Community in a Nascent Field

Após muitos anos de independência política, a ilha caribenha de Antigua ainda sofre a influência e dominação das nações hegemônicas nos aspectos político, econômico e cultural, situação que causa um tipo de colonização que pode ser descrito como ainda mais corrosivo para a sociedade caribenha do que a escravidão. O turismo é a principal atividade econômica em Antigua e os Estados Unidos é o principal colaborador. Esse artigo discutirá a natureza colonial do trade turístico de Antigua, fazendo referência à teoria pós-colonial, ao papel especial dos Estados Unidos nesse processo e ao impacto causado pela exploração sexual na vida das mulheres, em sua maioria negras, desprovidas de direito. O caso de Antigua, como exposto na biografia A Small Place, de Jamaica Kincaid, será utilizado como exemplo. Através da sua narrativa, Kincaid, nativa de Antigua, faz críticas ao colonialismo (especialmente sob a forma moderna de turismo), racismo, corrupção no governo e corporações locais, e as consequências sociais causadas por esses elementos.Palavras-chave: Colonização. Pós-colonialismo. Turismo. Caribe. Antigua. Estados Unidos. Exploração sexual femininaResumenDespués de muchos años de independencia política, la isla caribeña de Antigua aún sufre la influencia y la dominación de las naciones hegemónicas en los aspectos político, económico y cultural, situación que causa un tipo de colonización que puede ser descrito como más corrosivo para la sociedad caribeña que la esclavitud. El turismo es la principal actividad económica en Antigua y Estados Unidos es el principal colaborador. Este artículo discutirá la naturaleza colonial do trade turístico de Antigua, haciendo referencia a la teoría postcolonial, al papel especial de Estados Unidos en ese proceso y al impacto causado por la explotación sexual en la vida de las mujeres, en su mayoría negras, desprovistas de derechos. El caso de Antigua, como expuesto en la biografia A Small Place, de Jamaica Kincaid, se ha utilizado como ejemplo. A través da su narrativa, Kincaid, nativa de Antigua, hace críticas al colonialismo (especialmente bajo la forma moderna del turismo), racismo, corrupción en el gobierno y las corporaciones locales, y las consecuencias sociales causadas por esos elementos.Palavras clave: Colonización. Postcolonialismo. Turismo. Caribe. Antigua. Estados Unidos. Explotação sexual femeninaAbstractAfter many years of political independence, the Caribbean island of Antigua still suffers from the influence and domination of the hegemonic nations in political, economic and cultural aspects, a situation that begets a kind of colonization that could be described as even more corrosive to Caribbean society than slavery. Tourism is the main economic activity in Antigua, the Unites States of America being the main contributor. This article will discuss the colonial nature of the Antiguan tourist trade, with reference to postcolonial theory, the special role of the USA and the impact caused by sexual exploitation in womens lives, mostly black, deprived of rights. The case of Antigua as expounded in Jamaica Kincaid’s memoir A Small Place will be used for this discussion. Through her narrative, Kincaid, native of Antigua,Jamaica Kincaid’s memoir A Small Place will be used for this discussion. Through Kincaid’s narrative, this native of Antigua critiques colonialism (especially in the modern form of tourism), racism and corruption in the government and local corporations, and the social consequences caused by these elements.Keywords: Colonization. Post-colonialism. Tourism. Caribbean. Antigua. The United States. Female sexual exploitatio

Hypoxia induces expression of connective tissue growth factor in scleroderma skin fibroblasts

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a role in the fibrotic process of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Because hypoxia is associated with fibrosis in several profibrogenic conditions, we investigated whether CTGF expression in SSc fibroblasts is regulated by hypoxia. Dermal fibroblasts from patients with SSc and healthy controls were cultured in the presence of hypoxia or cobalt chloride (CoCl2), a chemical inducer of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Expression of CTGF was evaluated by Northern and Western blot analyses. Dermal fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia (1% O2) or CoCl2 (1–100 µM) enhanced expression of CTGF mRNA. Skin fibroblasts transfected with HIF-1α showed the increased levels of CTGF protein and mRNA, as well as nuclear staining of HIF-1α, which was enhanced further by treatment of CoCl2. Simultaneous treatment of CoCl2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β additively increased CTGF mRNA in dermal fibroblasts. Interferon-γ inhibited the TGF-β-induced CTGF mRNA expression dose-dependently in dermal fibroblasts, but they failed to hamper the CoCl2-induced CTGF mRNA expression. In addition, CoCl2 treatment increased nuclear factor (NF)-κB binding activity for CTGF mRNA, while decreasing IκBα expression in dermal fibroblasts. Our data suggest that hypoxia, caused possibly by microvascular alterations, up-regulates CTGF expression through the activation of HIF-1α in dermal fibroblasts of SSc patients, and thereby contributes to the progression of skin fibrosis