Future Software Research Articles

SOFTWARE FOR AUTOMATED DESIGN OF NETWORK GRAPHICS OF SOFTWARE SYSTEMS REENGINEERING

The subject of the work is the construction of a graphical network model of reengineering of the software system. Purpose of the paper is development of software for increasing the level of automation of designing network charts for the organization of production by reengineering software systems in the framework of project management. Network planning is one of the forms of graphical representation of the work content and the duration of implementation of strategic plans and long-term complexes of project, planning, organizational and other activities of the enterprise. Along with linear charts and table calculations, network planning methods are extensively used in the development of long-term plans and models for the creation of complex production systems and other objects of long-term use. The “Nodes-Activity” type of graphs is used in modern specialized packages of planning and operational management computer programs. The task before creating a software tool is the ability to work with all types of network charts with the possibilities of their comprehensive transformation. Methods. The article is based on methods of network planning for the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) methodology, the use of elements of graph theory and the Gantt chart method as an accounting method for project management. Simulation of the system software architecture is carried out within the UML (Unified Modeling Language) 2.5 methodology using the CASE toolkit Enterprise Architect 14. Project decisions proposed by the authors are the results of the article. The content of the design part is determined, firstly, by the specifics of the planning of software projects reengineering, and secondly, by the features of specific technical proposals for a project that is manageable. The architecture (project “Frame”) software for managing network planning of software project reengineering is designed in the article. Conclusions. The architecture is developed in the form of several structural and behavioral diagrams, namely: use case diagram, which provides an analyst with a detailed idea of the software field of application; sequence diagram that is designed to create a programmer's imagination on how to perform actions when working with a future program tool; statechart diagram that is required for a visual representation of those states in which the software can be at different times; class diagrams that are used to design the main form filling of the future software; component diagram that is designed to examine the composition of the components of the future software and indicate the sequence of compilation and assembly of individual modules. The numerical and temporal estimation of the planning parameters is based on the data obtained from the Gantt design charts.

Size Metrics for Service-Oriented Architecture

Determining the size, effort and cost of Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) systems is important to facilitate project planning and eventually successful implementation of a software project. SOA approach is one of the recent software architectures that allow integration of applications within and outside the organization regardless of heterogeneous technology over a distributed network. A number of research studies have been done to measure SOA size.However, these studies are not based on software metrics rendering them to be ineffective in their estimation. This study defined a set of SOA size metrics based on Unified Modelling Language (UML). The study employed Briand’s theoretical validation to test the validity of the designed SOA size metrics. Findings from this study will provide metrics to measure SOA size more accurately and form a basis for future software engineering researchers to develop more effective and more accurate size metrics and effort estimation methods.

OPENMENDEL: a cooperative programming project for statistical genetics.

Statistical methods for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) continue to improve. However, the increasing volume and variety of genetic and genomic data make computational speed and ease of data manipulation mandatory in future software. In our view, a collaborative effort of statistical geneticists is required to develop open source software targeted to genetic epidemiology. Our attempt to meet this need is called the OPENMENDEL project (https://openmendel.github.io). It aims to (1) enable interactive and reproducible analyses with informative intermediate results, (2) scale to big data analytics, (3) embrace parallel and distributed computing, (4) adapt to rapid hardware evolution, (5) allow cloud computing, (6) allow integration of varied genetic data types, and (7) foster easy communication between clinicians, geneticists, statisticians, and computer scientists. This article reviews and makes recommendations to the genetic epidemiology community in the context of the OPENMENDEL project.

Computational Modeling of the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Vigilance Decrement.

We developed a computational model of the effects of sleep deprivation on the vigilance decrement by employing the methods of system dynamics modeling. Situations that require sustained attention for a prolonged duration can cause a decline in cognitive performance, the so-called vigilance decrement. One factor that should influence the vigilance decrement is fatigue in the form of sleep deprivation. We employed the methods of system dynamics modeling (numerical-integration techniques for modeling complex feedback systems) to create a computational model of the vigilance decrement. We then simulated the computational effects of sleep deprivation on the behavior of that model, using empirical data obtained from the literature for calibrating such effects. Sleep deprivation of 2 hr over a 14-day period should produce an additional decline of 9% in detection performance over that found with the typical vigilance decrement, whereas 4 hr of sleep deprivation over 14 days should produce an additional decline of 14% in detection performance. With respect to dual-process theory, it is through its deleterious effects on analytical cognition that sleep deprivation should impact the vigilance decrement. Such computational modeling may be advantageous for human-machine teaming by theoretically allowing a future autonomous software agent to anticipate the decline of human performance and compensate accordingly.

Implementation of cloud service models in training of future information technology specialists

Leading research directions are defined on the basis of self-analysis of the study results on the use of cloud technologies in training by employees of joint research laboratory “Сloud technologies in education” of Kryvyi Rih National University and Institute of Information Technology and Learning Aids of the NAES of Ukraine in 2009-2018: cloud learning technologies, cloud technologies of blended learning, cloud-oriented learning environments, cloud-oriented methodological systems of training, the provision of cloud-based educational services. The ways of implementation SaaS, PaaS, IaaS cloud services models which are appropriate to use in the process of studying the academic disciplines of the cycles of mathematical, natural science and professional and practical training of future specialists in information technology are shown, based on the example of software engineering, computer science and computer engineering. The most significant advantages of using cloud technologies in training of future information technology specialists are definite, namely, the possibility of using modern parallel programming tools as the basis of cloud technologies. Conclusions are drawn; the direction of further research is indicated: designing a cloud-oriented learning environment for future specialists in computer engineering, identifying trends in the development of cloud technologies in the professional training and retraining of information technology specialists, developing a methodology for building the research competencies of future software engineering specialists by using cloud technologies.

Artefacts in software engineering: a fundamental positioning

Artefacts play a vital role in software and systems development processes. Other terms like documents, deliverables, or work products are widely used in software development communities instead of the term artefact. In the following, we use the term `artefact' including all these other terms. Despite its relevance, the exact denotation of the term `artefact' is still not clear due to a variety of different understandings of the term and to a careless negligent usage. This often leads to approaches being grounded in a fuzzy, unclear understanding of the essential concepts involved. In fact, there does not exist a common terminology. Therefore, it is our goal that the term artefact be standardised so that researchers and practitioners have a common understanding for discussions and contributions. In this position paper, we provide a positioning and critical reflection upon the notion of artefact in software engineering at different levels of perception and how these relate to each other. We further contribute a meta model that provides a description of an artefact that is independent from any underlying process model. This meta model defines artefacts at three levels. Abstraction and refinement relations between these levels allow correlating artefacts to each other and defining the notion of related, refined, and equivalent artefacts. Our contribution shall foster the long overdue and too often underestimated terminological discussion on what artefacts are to provide a common ground with clearer concepts and principles for future software engineering contributions, such as the design of artefact-oriented development processes and tools.

Detection and Prevention of Man-in-the-Middle Spoofing Attacks in MANETs Using Predictive Techniques in Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)

A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) is a convenient wireless infrastructure which presents many advantages in network settings. With Mobile Ad-Hoc Network, there are many challenges. These networks are more susceptible to attacks such as black hole and man-in-the-middle (MITM) than their corresponding wired networks. This is due to the decentralized nature of their overall architecture. In this paper, ANN classification methods in intrusion detection for MANETs were developed and used with NS2 simulation platform for attack detection, identification, blacklisting, and node reconfiguration for control of nodes attacked. The ANN classification algorithm for intrusion detection was evaluated using several metrics. The performance of the ANN as a predictive technique for attack detection, isolation, and reconfiguration was measured on a dataset with network-varied traffic conditions and mobility patterns for multiple attacks. With a final detection rate of 88.235%, this work not only offered a productive and less expensive way to perform MITM attacks on simulation platforms but also identified time as a crucial factor in determining such attacks as well as isolating nodes and reconfiguring the network under attack. This work is intended to be an opening for future malicious software time signature creation, identification, isolation, and reconfiguration to supplement existing Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs).

Future smart energy software houses

Software is the key enabling technology (KET) as digitalization is cross-cutting future energy systems spanning the production sites, distribution networks, and consumers particularly in electricity smart grids. In this paper, we identify systematically what particular software competencies are required in the future energy systems focusing on electricity system smart grids. The realizations of that can then be roadmapped to specific software capabilities of the different future ‘software houses’ across the networks. Our instrumental method is software competence development scenario path construction with environmental scanning of the related systems elements. The vision of future software-enabled smart energy systems with software houses is mapped with the already progressing scenarios of energy systems transitions on the one hand coupled with the technology foresight of software on the other hand. Grounding on the Smart Grid Reference Architecture Model (SGAM), it tabulates the distinguished software competencies and attributes them to the different parties—including customers/consumers (Internet of People, IoP)—involved in future smart energy systems. The resulting designations can then be used to recognize and measure the necessary software competencies (e.g., fog computing) in order to be able to develop them in-house, or for instance to partner with software companies, depending on the future desirability. Software-intensive systems development competence becomes one of the key success factors for such cyber-physical-social systems (CPSS). Further futures research work is chartered with the Futures Map frame. This paper contributes preliminarily toward that by identifying pictures of the software-enabled futures and the connecting software competence-based scenario paths.

Idiopathic Rotational Abnormalities of the Lower Extremities in Children and Adults.

* Rotational malalignment of the lower extremity is a potential cause of hip, knee, and ankle pain.* Physical examination must include observation of gait and an assessment of femoral rotation and the thigh-foot axis with the patient prone.* Advanced imaging helps to quantify the degree of deformity, improving the accuracy of the preoperative plan.* Surgical correction of rotational malalignment of the femur and tibia is reserved for severe, symptomatic deformity.* Future software that allows for 3-dimensional assessment of alignment and preoperative planning will further aid in the correction of the complex deformities.

A new innovation paradigm: combining technological and social innovation

A new innovation paradigm is needed to answer the societal, economic and environmental challenges the world and companies are facing. The EU funded Horizon 2020 SPIRE Project “Coordinating Optimisation of Complex Industrial Processes” (COCOP) is combining technological and social innovation within a steel company pilot case (Sidenor). The project aims at reducing raw materials consumption (and energy and emissions reduction as well) by plant-wide optimisation of production processes based on a software solution and at the same time changing social practices. Key for COCOP is a methodology integrating technological innovation within a social innovation process of co-creation and co-development by involving (potential) users of the future software system and relevant stakeholders right from the beginning; thereby improving effectiveness and impact of the innovations and the implementation process. This involvement is instructed and measured by social key performance indicators (social KPIs) and operationalised in surveys (questionnaire and interviews) with future users, engineers and external experts (from different industry sectors not involved in the project). The article presents the results of the starting point of COCOP illustrating the future user perspective of the pilot steel company (Sidenor) contrasted by the view of external experts – seriously taking into account the interfaces between technology, human and organisation.

DQM4hep

Data quality monitoring is the first step in the certification of data recorded for offline physics analyses. Many experiments have developed their own dedicated monitoring system in the past. Most of them rely on their own event data model, which leads to a strong dependency on the data format and storage. We present here a generic data quality monitoring system, DQM4hep, that has been developed without any assumptions on the underlying event data model. This reduces the code maintenance and increases the portability and reusability across other experiments. We first introduce the framework architecture and the various core components as well as tools provided by the software package. We then give an overview of the different experiments using DQM4hep and the foreseen integration in future other experiments. We finally present the ongoing and future software development for DQM4Hhep and long-term prospects.

Validation of a low-cost portable 3-dimensional face scanner.

PurposeThe goal of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of a low-cost portable scanner (Scanify) for imaging facial casts compared to a previously validated portable digital stereophotogrammetry device (Vectra H1). This in vitro study was performed using 2 facial casts obtained by recording impressions of the authors, at King's College London Academic Centre of Reconstructive Science.Materials and MethodsThe casts were marked with anthropometric landmarks, then digitised using Scanify and Vectra H1. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the same casts were performed to verify the validation of Vectra H1. The 3-dimensional (3D) images acquired with each device were compared using linear measurements and 3D surface analysis software.ResultsOverall, 91% of the linear Scanify measurements were within 1 mm of the corresponding reference values. The mean overall surface difference between the Scanify and Vectra images was <0.3 mm. Significant differences were detected in depth measurements. Merging multiple Scanify images produced significantly greater registration error.ConclusionScanify is a very low-cost device that could have clinical applications for facial imaging if imaging errors could be corrected by a future software update or hardware revision.

КОМПЕТЕНТНІСНО ОРІЄНТОВАНІ ЗАВДАННЯ У ФОРМУВАННІ ФАХОВИХ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТЕЙ МАЙБУТНІХ ІНЖЕНЕРІВ-ПРОГРАМІСТІВ

The actual direction of research in the field of higher professional education is the improvement of the quality of future software engineers’ professional training in a reduced period of study at universities. This is due to contradictions between the list of competencies defined in curricula, fewer numbers of disciplines in the curriculum and the competencies already available to students. We believe that competence oriented tasks are means to gain this point. Such tasks involve the organization of students self-work to solve professional problems. This orientation motivates undergraduates to cognitive activity and contributes to the formation of professional competencies. The purpose of this article is to analyze the use of competence oriented tasks in the process of future software engineers’ short-term training at universities. Scientific publications devoted to various aspects of the use of competence oriented tasks in the training process are analyzed. Their definition, classification, structure, and recommendations for design are given. The concept of professional competence by definition of the TUNING project and professional competence of the software engineer in particular are considered. The characteristics that allow to consider competence oriented tasks as means for formation and evaluation of future software engineers professional competencies are determined. Examples of such tasks aimed at the formation and evaluation of the level of professional competencies in «Programming» course are given. Further research is aimed at evaluation the effectiveness of the implementation of educational and criterion functions of these ones in the training of future software engineers.

New evolution of cone-beam computed tomography in dentistry: Combining digital technologies.

Panoramic radiographs and computed tomography (CT) play a paramount role in the accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognostic evaluation of various complex dental pathologies. The advent of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has revolutionized the practice of dentistry, and this technique is now considered the gold standard for imaging the oral and maxillofacial area due to its numerous advantages, including reductions in exposure time, radiation dose, and cost in comparison to other imaging modalities. This review highlights the broad use of CBCT in the dentomaxillofacial region, and also focuses on future software advancements that can further optimize CBCT imaging.

КОНСТРУИРОВАНИЕ МОДЕЛИ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ГОТОВНОСТИ БУДУЩИХ МАГИСТРОВ ПРОГРАММНОЙ ИНЖЕНЕРИИ К ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ КОММУНИКАЦИИ

The article deals with the relevant problem of training master students for professional communication. On the basis of the theoretical analysis of the labor functions for programmers specified in the professional standard and the analysis of competencies outlined in the Federal state educational standards of higher education 3+, the authors highlighted the relevant competence – readiness for professional communication. The competence requires the search for productive educational measures to promote the development of this type of readiness. The aim of the research is to construct a model of formation of readiness of future software engineering masters for professional communication. According to the purpose the following tasks are solved: 1) the algorithm of model design is developed and tested; 2) by means of the analysis of documents the studied problem relevance is proved; 3) the analysis of scientific sources assisted to specify the definition of the readiness of future software engineering for professional communication and define the list of necessary knowledge, abilities and skills; 4) on the basis of the modeling method, a structural model of the educational process is constructed and the content of its components is given. To solve these problems, we relied on the methodology of systematic, competence and integrative approaches. Besides, we used methods of documents analysis, theoretical analysis and synthesis, observation, analysis of products of educational activities and modeling which are considered as adequate to the tasks. On the basis of the methods of observation and analysis of the products of educational activity, the insufficient level of readiness of future software engineering masters for professional communication is recorded. For its qualitative improvement the model of formation of readiness of future software engineering masters for professional communication is developed. The main feature of this model is the use of the interdisciplinary principle in the educational process of the University. Interactive teaching methods, interdisciplinary projects and modern scientific and educational Internet resources that increase motivation and involvement of students are chosen as the most effective methods of formation of readiness for professional communication. Theoretical and practical results of the work can be used in training programs for graduate students. The scheme proposed by the authors can form the basis for the design of models and methodological ideas for the development of students' competencies in the oral and written business communication, scientific sphere of communication, intercultural aspects of interaction with specialists, etc.

Вебресурс з вивчення платформи arduino для програмних інженерів у вищій освіті України

The process of studying in higher education institutions is transformed from the system of knowledge transfer to the system of their independent acquisition by students, the search for solutions to problems through research activities, inherent models of studying the Master’s degree level. The development of future software engineers’professional competencies in the contextof a modern university has the following contradictions: insufficient consideration ofdemadsof the specialization according to which training ofmasters in specialties 121 "Computer Sciences" and 122 "Software Engineering" is conducted, in thecontent of academicdisciplines; implementationofonly a general development function in the process of teaching these disciplines is carried out, while improving the skills of designing and developing software products in the training of future IT specialists remains a secondary task; the motivation for the research and creative activity of students undergoing training within the framework of the Master's program is not clearly identified. The article is devoted to the design of an educational Web resource for the study of the platform for Arduino's amateur constructing as a computer tool for the professional competence formation of 121 "Computer Sciences", 122 "Software Engineering" specialties students. The modeling of this web-resource is focused on systematization of knowledge and development of practical design skills in the Arduino hardwarecomputing platform in the study of "Quality Management of Electronic Educational Resources" and "Information Technology Management" Master’s courses. In the process of course design, students determine the purpose and objectives of learning through electronic educational resources, analyze existing analogues of Arduino study sites, identify major requirements groups, design information architecture, present a chart of precedents for roles specific to an educational website. The application of this topic into the educational process of the Kherson State University is aimed at the development of professional competences for future programmers through the active introduction of new educational technologies, the use of opportunities for the information space, and the partnership between teachers and students.

“ADVANCED COURSE ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING” ЯК ПЕРША МОДЕЛЬ ПІДГОТОВКИ ФАХІВЦІВ З ІНЖЕНЕРІЇ ПРОГРАМНОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ

Designing a mobile-oriented environment for professional and practical training requires determining the stable (fundamental) and mobile (technological) components of its content and determining the appropriate model for specialist training. In order to determine the ratio of fundamental and technological in the content of software engineers’ training, a retrospective analysis of the first model of training software engineers developed in the early 1970s was carried out and its compliance with the current state of software engineering development as a field of knowledge and a new the standard of higher education in Ukraine, specialty 121 “Software Engineering”. It is determined that the consistency and scalability inherent in the historically first training program are largely consistent with the ideas of evolutionary software design. An analysis of its content also provided an opportunity to identify the links between the training for software engineers and training for computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, information systems and technologies. It has been established that the fundamental core of software engineers’ training should ensure that students achieve such leading learning outcomes: to know and put into practice the fundamental concepts, paradigms and basic principles of the functioning of language, instrumental and computational tools for software engineering; know and apply the appropriate mathematical concepts, methods of domain, system and object-oriented analysis and mathematical modeling for software development; put into practice the software tools for domain analysis, design, testing, visualization, measurement and documentation of software. It is shown that the formation of the relevant competencies of future software engineers must be carried out in the training of all disciplines of professional and practical training.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНО ОРІЄНТОВАНОЇ АНГЛОМОВНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ В ГОВОРІННІ В МАЙБ УТНІХ ПРОГРАМІСТІВ: ПСИХОЛОГО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ

This article draws attention to the importance of English language speaking competence mastery for future software engineers; some arguments in support are being well-grounded. The author offers analysis of existing scientific works of different scientists, who faced similar pedagogical problems and summarizes their findings. The article has its purpose to study possible pedagogical ways to improve English learning results among this category of students, by analyzing psychological features of these students’ category and developing own pedagogical recommendations. With the purpose to raise effectiveness on the way to form professional English language speaking competence of future software engineers, some age peculiarities of these students are being analyzed. The possible ways to apply these findings in the learning process are being discussed. The author gives detailed analyses of psychological features and the outlook of the students, studies professional features of programmers. The author comes out with personally developed pedagogical ways to use some of characteristic features of these students’ category, each of which, having its positive side, can be applied in favour of the learning process. Some recommendations to be applied in the process of forming professional English language speaking competence of future software engineers are systematized in a table. Among them are: the wide use of schematically represented matters, the extended use of self-evaluation and interpersonal evaluation among students, the advice to involve students in a wider range of group activities, including games, projects etc., encourage students’ introspection, the necessity of getting students acquainted with some aspects of the theory of communication, among which are the secrets of effective communication, etc. The important task is to induce students to acquire a number of personal learning strategies and apply them in the process of mastering English language speaking competence.

Citizen informatics: integrating urban data and design for future stakeholders

This paper describes a range of existing software tools and prototypes for ICT-supported participatory urban design and planning as a subset of participatory governance, and outlines key features of a future software architecture capable of supporting urban planning and pre-design practices that are both more inclusive and more rigorously evidence-based than the current state of the art. The authors propose a scenario in which existing tools and practices can be adapted to co-evolve with complementary developments in the realms of data literacy and collaborative design media, towards the evolution of expert public realms, i.e., societies whose lay citizens could be as expert and engaged in matters of design and governance of complex built environments as researchers and professional experts are today. The paper is offered less as a compte-rendu of research than as an RFC (Request for Comment) in the spirit of Steve Crocker's RFC 1 of 1967.

High Accuracy Benchmark Problems for Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard Dynamics

There is a large literature of numerical methods for phase field models from materials science. The prototype models are the Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard equations. We present four benchmark problems for these equations, with numerical results validated using several computational methods with different spatial and temporal discretizations. Our goal is to provide the scientific community with a reliable reference point for assessing the accuracy and reliability of future software for this important class of problem.