Dynamic multi-objective heating optimization We develop a multicriteria approach to the problem of space heating under a time varying price of electricity . In our dynamic goal programming model the goals are ideal temperature intervals and the other criteria are the costs and energy consumption . We discuss the modelling requirements in multicriteria problems with a dynamic structure and present a new relaxation method combining the traditional epsilon - constraint and goal programming -LRB- GP -RRB- methods . The multi-objective heating optimization -LRB- MOHO -RRB- application in a spreadsheet environment with numerical examples is described

O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O

space heating
multicriteria approach
dynamic goal programming model
ideal temperature intervals
energy consumption
modelling requirements
dynamic structure
relaxation method
spreadsheet environment
numerical examples

dynamic multi-objective heating optimization


Digital-domain self-calibration technique for video-rate pipeline A/D converters using Gaussian white noise A digital-domain self-calibration technique for video-rate pipeline A/D converters based on a Gaussian white noise input signal is presented . The proposed algorithm is simple and efficient . A design example is shown to illustrate that the overall linearity of a pipeline ADC can be highly improved using this technique

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


Quasi-Newton algorithm for adaptive minor component extraction An adaptive quasi-Newton algorithm is first developed to extract a single minor component corresponding to the smallest eigenvalue of a stationary sample covariance matrix . A deflation technique instead of the commonly used inflation method is then applied to extract the higher-order minor components . The algorithm enjoys the advantage of having a simpler computational complexity and a highly modular and parallel structure for efficient implementation . Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for extracting multiple minor components adaptively

O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

adaptive minor component extraction
eigenvalue
stationary sample covariance matrix
deflation technique
computational complexity
parallel structure
simulation results

quasi-newton algorithm
higher-order minor components
modular structure
adaptive estimation
doa estimation
root-music estimator


A GRASP heuristic for the mixed Chinese postman problem Arc routing problems -LRB- ARPs -RRB- consist of finding a traversal on a graph satisfying some conditions related to the links of the graph . In the Chinese postman problem -LRB- CPP -RRB- the aim is to find a minimum cost tour -LRB- closed walk -RRB- traversing all the links of the graph at least once . Both the Undirected CPP , where all the links are edges that can be traversed in both ways , and the Directed CPP , where all the links are arcs that must be traversed in a specified way , are known to be polynomially solvable . However , if we deal with a mixed graph -LRB- having edges and arcs -RRB- , the problem turns out to be NP-hard . In this paper , we present a heuristic algorithm for this problem , the so-called Mixed CPP -LRB- MCPP -RRB- , based on greedy randomized adaptive search procedure -LRB- GRASP -RRB- techniques . The algorithm has been tested and compared with other known and recent methods from the literature on a wide collection of randomly generated instances , with up to 200 nodes and 600 links , producing encouraging computational results . As far as we know , this is the best heuristic algorithm for the MCPP , with respect to solution quality , published up to now

O B I O O B I I I B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

graph traversal
np-hard problem
optimization problems
metaheuristics


Use of fuzzy weighted autocorrelation function for pitch extraction from noisy speech An investigation is presented into the feasibility of incorporating a fuzzy weighting scheme into the calculation of an autocorrelation function for pitch extraction . Simulation results reveal that the proposed method provides better robustness against background noise than the conventional approaches for extracting pitch period in a noisy environment

O O O O B I O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B I O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O

pitch extraction
noisy speech
fuzzy weighting scheme
autocorrelation function
simulation results
background noise

speech analysis-synthesis system
average magnitude difference function
cepstrum method


Application of heuristic methods for conformance test selection In this paper we focus on the test selection problem . It is modeled after a real-life problem that arises in telecommunication when one has to check the reliability of an application . We apply different metaheuristics , namely Reactive Tabu Search -LRB- RTS -RRB- , Genetic Algorithms -LRB- GA -RRB- and Simulated Annealing -LRB- SA -RRB- to solve the problem . We propose some modifications to the conventional schemes including an adaptive neighbourhood sampling in RTS , an adaptive variable mutation rate in GA and an adaptive variable neighbourhood structure in SA . The performance of the algorithms is evaluated in different models for existing protocols . Computational results show that GA and SA can provide high-quality solutions in acceptable time compared to the results of a commercial software , which makes them applicable in practical test selection

O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

telecommunication conformance test selection


Blind identification of non-stationary MA systems A new adaptive algorithm for blind identification of time-varying MA channels is derived . This algorithm proposes the use of a novel system of equations derived by combining the third - and fourth-order statistics of the output signals of MA models . This overdetermined system of equations has the important property that it can be solved adaptively because of their symmetries via an overdetermined recursive instrumental variable-type algorithm . This algorithm shows good behaviour in arbitrary noisy environments and good performance in tracking time-varying systems

B I O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B O O

blind identification
adaptive algorithm
ma models
arbitrary noisy environments
tracking

recursive instrumental variable algorithm


Development through gaming Mainstream observers commonly underestimate the role of fringe activities in propelling science and technology . Well-known examples are how wars have fostered innovation in areas such as communications , cryptography , medicine and aerospace ; and how erotica has been a major factor in pioneering visual media , from the first printed books to photography , cinematography , videotape , or the latest online video streaming . The article aims to be a sampler of a less controversial , but still often underrated , symbiosis between scientific computing and computing for leisure and entertainment

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O B

scientific computing
leisure
entertainment


Training multilayer perceptrons via minimization of sum of ridge functions Motivated by the problem of training multilayer perceptrons in neural networks , we consider the problem of minimizing E -LRB- x -RRB- = Sigma / sub i = 1 / / sup n / f/sub i / -LRB- xi / sub i / . x -RRB- , where xi / sub i / in R/sup S / , 1 < or = i < or = n , and each f/sub i / -LRB- xi / sub i / . x -RRB- is a ridge function . We show that when n is small the problem of minimizing E can be treated as one of minimizing univariate functions , and we use the gradient algorithms for minimizing E when n is moderately large . For a large n , we present the online gradient algorithms and especially show the monotonicity and weak convergence of the algorithms

O B I O B O O O B I O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B O B I O O O

multilayer perceptrons
online gradient algorithms
ridge functions
minimization
neural networks
gradient algorithms
univariate functions
monotonicity
weak convergence


Error resilient intra refresh scheme for H. 26L stream Recently much attention has been focused on video streaming through IP-based networks . An error resilient RD intra macro-block refresh scheme for H. 26L Internet video streaming is introduced . Various channel simulations have proved that this scheme is more effective than those currently adopted in H. 26L

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

h.26l video streaming
ip-based networks
error resilient scheme
intra macro-block refresh scheme
rd intra refresh scheme
video communication
rderr scheme
rdall scheme


Dual nature of mass multi-agent systems Dual nature of mass multi-agent systems -LRB- mMAS -RRB- emerging as an internal discord of two spheres - micro -LRB- virtual -RRB- consisting of agents and their internal phenomena , and macro arising at the interface to the real world $ stems the necessity of a new approach to analysis , design and utilisation of such systems . Based on the concept of VR decomposition , the problem of management of such systems is discussed . As a sub-type that makes mMAS closer to the application sphere , an evolutionary multi-agent system -LRB- EMAS -RRB- is proposed . EMAS combines features of mMAS with advantages of an evolutionary model of computation . As an illustration of this consideration two particular EMAS are presented , which allow us to obtain promising results in the fields of multiobjective optimisation and time-series prediction , and thus justify the approach

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O

vr decomposition
multiobjective optimisation

mass multiple agent systems
virtual reality
time-series prediction
micro-macro link
formal model
evolutionary multiple agent system


A decision support model for selecting product/service benefit positionings The art -LRB- and science -RRB- of successful product/service positioning generally hinges on the firm 's ability to select a set of attractively priced consumer benefits that are : valued by the buyer , distinctive in one or more respects , believable , deliverable , and sustainable -LRB- under actual or potential competitive abilities to imitate , neutralize , or overcome -RRB- in the target markets that the firm selects . For many years , the ubiquitous quadrant chart has been used to provide a simple graph of product/service benefits -LRB- usually called product/service attributes -RRB- described in terms of consumers ' perceptions of the importance of attributes -LRB- to brand/supplier choice -RRB- and the performance of competing firms on these attributes . This paper describes a model that extends the quadrant chart concept to a decision support system that optimizes a firm 's market share for a specified product/service . In particular , we describe a decision support model that utilizes relatively simple marketing research data on consumers ' judged benefit importances , and supplier performances on these benefits to develop message components for specified target buyers . A case study is used to illustrate the model . The study deals with developing advertising message components for a relatively new entrant in the US air shipping market . We also discuss , more briefly , management reactions to application of the model to date , and areas for further research and model extension

O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B I O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

decision support model
attractively priced consumer benefits
quadrant chart
simple graph
marketing research data
message components
us air shipping market
management reactions
advertising

product/service benefit positionings
product/service attributes
brand/supplier choice
market share optimization
consumer judged benefit importances
advertising message components
greedy heuristic
optimal message design


Improving supply-chain performance by sharing advance demand information In this paper , we analyze how sharing advance demand information -LRB- ADI -RRB- can improve supply-chain performance . We consider two types of ADI , aggregated ADI -LRB- A-ADI -RRB- and detailed ADI -LRB- D-ADI -RRB- . With A-ADI , customers share with manufacturers information about whether they will place an order for some product in the next time period , but do not share information about which product they will order and which of several potential manufacturers will receive the order . With D-ADI , customers additionally share information about which product they will order , but which manufacturer will receive the order remains uncertain . We develop and solve mathematical models of supply chains where ADI is shared . We derive exact expressions and closed-form approximations for expected costs , expected base-stock levels , and variations of the production quantities . We show that both the manufacturer and the customers benefit from sharing ADI , but that sharing ADI increases the bullwhip effect . We also show that under certain conditions it is optimal to collect ADI from either none or all of the customers . We study two supply chains in detail : a supply chain with an arbitrary number of products that have identical demand rates , and a supply chain with two products that have arbitrary demand rates . For these two supply chains , we analyze how the values of A-ADI and D-ADI depend on the characteristics of the supply chain and on the quality of the shared information , and we identify conditions under which sharing A-ADI and D-ADI can significantly reduce cost . Our results can be used by decision makers to analyze the cost savings that can be achieved by sharing ADI and help them to determine if sharing ADI is beneficial for their supply chains

O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

advance demand information
aggregated adi
detailed adi
mathematical models
expected costs
bullwhip effect
identical demand rates
arbitrary demand rates
decision makers
cost savings

supply-chain performance improvement
information sharing
manufacturing
closed-form approximations
expected base-stock levels
production quantity variations
arbitrary product number
shared information quality
forecasting


Evaluating the best main battle tank using fuzzy decision theory with linguistic criteria evaluation In this paper , experts ' opinions are described in linguistic terms which can be expressed in trapezoidal -LRB- or triangular -RRB- fuzzy numbers . To make the consensus of the experts consistent , we utilize the fuzzy Delphi method to adjust the fuzzy rating of every expert to achieve the consensus condition . For the aggregate of many experts ' opinions , we take the operation of fuzzy numbers to get the mean of fuzzy rating , x/sub ij / and the mean of weight , w/sub . j / . In multi-alternatives and multi-attributes cases , the fuzzy decision matrix X = -LSB- x/sub ij / -RSB- / sub m * n / is constructed by means of the fuzzy rating , x/sub ij / . Then , we can derive the aggregate fuzzy numbers by multiplying the fuzzy decision matrix with the corresponding fuzzy attribute weights . The final results become a problem of ranking fuzzy numbers . We also propose an easy procedure of using fuzzy numbers to rank aggregate fuzzy numbers A/sub i / . In this way , we can obtain the best selection for evaluating the system . For practical application , we propose an algorithm for evaluating the best main battle tank by fuzzy decision theory and comparing it with other methods

O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O

fuzzy decision theory
linguistic criteria evaluation
fuzzy delphi method
fuzzy rating
consensus condition
fuzzy decision matrix
aggregate fuzzy numbers
fuzzy attribute weights

battle tank evaluation
fuzzy group decision making
multiple criteria problems
group decision making
subjective-objective backgrounds
trapezoidal fuzzy numbers
triangular fuzzy numbers
fuzzy number ranking


Plug-ins for critical media literacy : a collaborative program Information literacy is important in academic and other libraries . The paper looks at whether it would be more useful to librarians and to instructors , as well as the students , to deal with information-literacy skill levels of students beginning their academic careers , rather than checking them at the end . Approaching the situation with an eye toward the broader scope of critical media literacy opens the discussion beyond a skills inventory to the broader range of intellectual activity

O O B I I O O B I B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

information literacy
critical media literacy
collaborative program
instructors


An optimization approach to plan for reusable software components It is well acknowledged in software engineering that there is a great potential for accomplishing significant productivity improvements through the implementation of a successful software reuse program . On the other hand , such gains are attainable only by instituting detailed action plans at both the organizational and program level . Given this need , the paucity of research papers related to planning , and in particular , optimized planning is surprising . This research , which is aimed at this gap , brings out an application of optimization for the planning of reusable software components -LRB- SCs -RRB- . We present a model that selects a set of SCs that must be built , in order to lower development and adaptation costs . We also provide implications to project management based on simulation , an approach that has been adopted by other cost models in the software engineering literature . Such a prescriptive model does not exist in the literature

O B O O O O B I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O

software engineering
productivity improvements
software reuse program
optimization
action plans
optimized planning
reusable software components
adaptation costs
project management
simulation


Integration is LIMS inspiration For software manufacturers , blessings come in the form of fast-moving application areas . In the case of LIMS , biotechnology is still in the driving seat , inspiring developers to maintain consistently rapid and creative levels of innovation . Current advancements are no exception . Integration and linking initiatives are still popular and much of the activity appears to be coming from a very productive minority

O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

software manufacturers
lims
biotechnology


Current-mode fully-programmable piece-wise-linear block for neuro-fuzzy applications A new method to implement an arbitrary piece-wise-linear characteristic in current mode is presented . Each of the breaking points and each slope is separately controllable . As an example a block that implements an N-shaped piece-wise-linearity has been designed . The N-shaped block operates in the subthreshold region and uses only ten transistors . These characteristics make it especially suitable for large arrays of neuro-fuzzy systems where the number of transistors and power consumption per cell is an important concern . A prototype of this block has been fabricated in a 0.35 mu m CMOS technology . The functionality and programmability of this circuit has been verified through experimental results

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

current mode
breaking points
separately controllable
subthreshold region
power consumption
cmos


Laguerre approximation of fractional systems Systems characterised by fractional power poles can be called fractional systems . Here , Laguerre orthogonal polynomials are employed to approximate fractional systems by minimum phase , reduced order , rational transfer functions . Both the time and the frequency-domain analysis exhibit the accuracy of the approximation

B I O B I O O O B I I O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O B I O B I O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

laguerre approximation
fractional systems
fractional power poles
orthogonal polynomials
minimum phase
reduced order
rational transfer functions

robust controllers
closed-loop system
frequency-domain analysis
time-domain analysis


A solvable queueing network model for railway networks and its validation and applications for the Netherlands The performance of new railway networks can not be measured or simulated , as no detailed train schedules are available . Railway infrastructure and capacities are to be determined long before the actual traffic is known . This paper therefore proposes a solvable queueing network model to compute performance measures of interest without requiring train schedules -LRB- timetables -RRB- . Closed form expressions for mean delays are obtained . New network designs , traffic scenarios , and capacity expansions can so be evaluated . A comparison with real delay data for the Netherlands supports the practical value of the model . A special Dutch cargo-line application is included

O B I I I O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O B I O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

railway networks
solvable queueing network model
netherlands
railway infrastructure
performance measures
closed form expressions
mean delays
network designs
traffic scenarios
capacity expansions

railway capacities
dutch cargo-line application


Robot trajectory control using neural networks The use of a new type of neural network -LRB- NN -RRB- for controlling the trajectory of a robot is discussed . A control system is described which comprises an NN-based controller and a fixed-gain feedback controller . The NN-based controller employs a modified recurrent NN , the weights of which are obtained by training another NN to identify online the inverse dynamics of the robot . The work has confirmed the superiority of the proposed NN-based control system in rejecting large disturbances

B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O

robot trajectory control
neural networks
control system

time-varying nonlinear multivariable plant


Transmission of real-time video over IP differentiated services Multimedia applications require high bandwidth and guaranteed quality of service -LRB- QoS -RRB- . The current Internet , which provides ` best effort ' services , can not meet the stringent QoS requirements for delivering MPEG videos . It is proposed that MPEG frames are transported through various service models of DiffServ . Performance analysis and simulation results show that the proposed approach can not only guarantee QoS but can also achieve high bandwidth utilisation

O O O O O B I I B I O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I

ip differentiated services
multimedia applications
quality of service
internet
diffserv
high bandwidth utilisation

real-time video transmission
qos guarantees
mpeg video


Pitch post-processing technique based on robust statistics A novel pitch post-processing technique based on robust statistics is proposed . Performances in terms of pitch error rates and pitch contours show the superiority of the proposed method compared with the median filtering technique . Further improvement is achieved through incorporating an uncertainty term in the robust statistics model

O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O

robust statistics
pitch error rates
pitch contours
median filtering
uncertainty term

pitch post-processing technique
speech quality
speech communications


Rapid Cauer filter design employing new filter model The exact three-dimensional -LRB- 3D -RRB- design of a coaxial Cauer filter employing a new filter model , a 3D field simulator and a circuit simulator , is demonstrated . Only a few iterations between the field simulator and the circuit simulator are necessary to meet a given specification

O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O B O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O

cauer filter
filter model
field simulator
circuit simulator
iterations

filter design
3d design
coaxial filter
bandpass filters


Hermite interpolation by rotation-invariant spatial Pythagorean-hodograph curves The interpolation of first-order Hermite data by spatial Pythagorean-hodograph curves that exhibit closure under arbitrary 3-dimensional rotations is addressed . The hodographs of such curves correspond to certain combinations of four polynomials , given by Dietz et al. -LRB- 1993 -RRB- , that admit compact descriptions in terms of quaternions - an instance of the `` PH representation map '' proposed by Choi et al. -LRB- 2002 -RRB- . The lowest-order PH curves that interpolate arbitrary first-order spatial Hermite data are quintics . It is shown that , with PH quintics , the quaternion representation yields a reduction of the Hermite interpolation problem to three `` simple '' quadratic equations in three quaternion unknowns . This system admits a closed-form solution , expressing all PH quintic interpolants to given spatial Hermite data as a two-parameter family . An integral shape measure is invoked to fix these two free parameters

O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O

interpolation
quaternions
polynomials
integral shape measure

spatial pythagorean hodograph curves
first-order hermite data
closed-form solution


Exploiting structure in adaptive dynamic programming algorithms for a stochastic batch service problem The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the importance of using structural results in dynamic programming algorithms . We consider the problem of approximating optimal strategies for the batch service of customers at a service station . Customers stochastically arrive at the station and wait to be served , incurring a waiting cost and a service cost . Service of customers is performed in groups of a fixed service capacity . We investigate the structure of cost functions and establish some theoretical results including monotonicity of the value functions . Then , we use our adaptive dynamic programming monotone algorithm that uses structure to preserve monotonicity of the estimates at each iterations to approximate the value functions . Since the problem with homogeneous customers can be solved optimally , we have a means of comparison to evaluate our heuristic . Finally , we compare our algorithm to classical forward dynamic programming methods

O O O B I I I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

stochastic batch service problem
adaptive dynamic programming algorithms
structural results
service station
waiting cost
service cost
fixed service capacity

optimal strategy approximation
cost function structure
value function monotonicity
inventory theory


Single machine earliness-tardiness scheduling with resource-dependent release dates This paper deals with the single machine earliness and tardiness scheduling problem with a common due date and resource-dependent release dates . It is assumed that the cost of resource consumption of a job is a non-increasing linear function of the job release date , and this function is common for all jobs . The objective is to find a schedule and job release dates that minimize the total resource consumption , and earliness and tardiness penalties . It is shown that the problem is NP-hard in the ordinary sense even if the due date is unrestricted -LRB- the number of jobs that can be scheduled before the due date is unrestricted -RRB- . An exact dynamic programming -LRB- DP -RRB- algorithm for small and medium size problems is developed . A heuristic algorithm for large-scale problems is also proposed and the results of a computational comparison between heuristic and optimal solutions are discussed

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

common due date
nonincreasing linear function
job release date
medium size problems
heuristic algorithm

single machine earliness-tardiness scheduling


Current waveform control of a high-power-factor rectifier circuit for harmonic suppression of voltage and current in a distribution system This paper presents the input current waveform control of the rectifier circuit which realizes simultaneously the high input power factor and the harmonics suppression of the receiving-end voltage and the source current under the distorted receiving-end voltage . The proposed input current waveform includes the harmonic components which are in phase with the receiving-end voltage harmonics . The control parameter in the proposed waveform is designed by examining the characteristics of both the harmonic suppression effect in the distribution system and the input power factor of the rectifier circuit . The effectiveness of the proposed current waveform has been confirmed experimentally

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

input current waveform control
high input power factor
source current
input current waveform
distribution system

receiving-end voltage
distorted receiving-end voltage
receiving-end voltage harmonics
high-power-factor rectifier circuit
harmonic voltage suppression
harmonic current suppression
200 v
60 hz
8 kva
2 kw


The road to perpetual progress -LSB- retail inventory management -RSB- With annual revenues increasing 17.0 % to 20.0 % consistently over the last three years and more than 2,500 new stores opened from 1998 through 2001 , Dollar General is on the fast track . However , the road to riches could have easily become the road to ruin had the retailer not exerted control over its inventory management

O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I

dollar general
retailer
inventory management


The limits of shape constancy : point-to-point mapping of perspective projections of flat figures The present experiments investigate point-to-point mapping of perspective transformations of 2D outline figures under diverse viewing conditions : binocular free viewing , monocular perspective with 2D cues masked by an optic tunnel , and stereoptic viewing through an optic tunnel . The first experiment involved upright figures , and served to determine baseline point-to-point mapping accuracy , which was found to be very good . Three shapes were used : square , circle and irregularly round . The main experiment , with slanted figures , involved only two shapes-square and irregularly shaped-showed at several slant degrees . Despite the accumulated evidence for shape constancy when the outline of perspective projections is considered , metric perception of the inner structure of such projections was quite limited . Systematic distortions were found , especially with more extreme slants , and attributed to the joint effect of several factors : anchors , 3D information , and slant underestimation . Contradictory flatness cues did not detract from performance , while stereoptic information improved it

O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O B I I O B I O B I O O O B I O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

shape constancy
experiments
2d outline figures
diverse viewing conditions
binocular free viewing
monocular perspective
2d cues
optic tunnel
stereoptic viewing
anchors
3d information
slant underestimation

point-to-point mapping
flat figure perspective projections
3d shape perception
human factors
3d information displays


E-learning on the college campus : a help or hindrance to students learning objectives : a case study If you know how to surf the World Wide Web , have used email before , and can learn how to send an email attachment , then learning how to interact in an online course should not be difficult at all . In a way to find out , I decided to offer two identical courses , one of which would be offered online and the other the `` traditional way '' . I wanted to see how students would fare with identical material provided in each course . I wanted their anonymous feedback , when the course was over

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

distance education
william paterson university
e-learning


Internet infrastructure and the emerging information society : an appraisal of the Internet backbone industry This paper examines the real constraints to the expansion of all encumbering and all pervasive information technology in our contemporary society . Perhaps the U.S. Internet infrastructure is the most appropriate to examine since it is U.S. technology that has led the world into the Internet age . In this context , this paper reviews the state of the U.S. Internet backbone that will lead us into information society of the future by facilitating massive data transmission

B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

internet service providers
users
backbone companies
local telephone companies


Cleared for take-off -LSB- Hummingbird Enterprise -RSB- A recent Gartner report identifies Hummingbird in the first wave of vendors as an early example of convergence in the ` smart enterprise suite ' market . We spoke to Hummingbird 's Marketing Director for Northern Europe

O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O

smart enterprise suite
hummingbird enterprise

information content
knowledge content
collaboration


Two issues in setting call centre staffing levels Motivated by a problem facing the Police Communication Centre in Auckland , New Zealand , we consider the setting of staffing levels in a call centre with priority customers . The choice of staffing level over any particular time period -LRB- e.g. , Monday from 8 am-9 am -RRB- relies on accurate arrival rate information . The usual method for identifying the arrival rate based on historical data can , in some cases , lead to considerable errors in performance estimates for a given staffing level . We explain why , identify three potential causes of the difficulty , and describe a method for detecting and addressing such a problem

O O O O B I I I O O O O O O B I I O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

call centre staffing levels
police communication centre
auckland
new zealand
priority customers
arrival rate information
performance estimates

forecast error
nonstationarity
conditional poisson process


Nurturing clients ' trust to encourage engagement success during the customization of ERP systems Customization is a crucial , lengthy , and costly aspect in the successful implementation of ERP systems , and has , accordingly , become a major specialty of many vendors and consulting companies . The study examines how such companies can increase their clients ' perception of engagement success through increased client trust that is brought about through responsive and dependable customization . Survey data from ERP customization clients show that , as hypothesized , clients ' trust influenced their perception of engagement success with the company . The data also show that clients ' trust in the customization company was increased when the company behaved in accordance with client expectations by being responsive , and decreased when the company behaved in a manner that contradicted these expectations by not being dependable . Responses to an open-ended question addendum attached to the survey corroborated the importance of responsiveness and dependability . Implications for customization companies and research on trust are discussed

O O O O O O B I O O B O B I B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O

client trust
engagement success
customization
erp systems
vendors
consulting companies
dependability

enterprise resource planning systems
perceived responsiveness
mrp ii implementation
integrity
benevolence


Disappointment reigns -LSB- retail IT -RSB- CPFR remains at the forefront of CIOs ' minds , but a number of barriers , such as secretive corporate cultures and spotty data integrity , stand between retail organizations and true supply-chain collaboration . CIOs remain vexed at these obstacles , as was evidenced at a roundtable discussion by retail and consumer-goods IT leaders at the Retail Systems 2002 conference , held in Chicago by the consultancy MoonWatch Media Inc. , Newton Upper Falls , Mass. . Other annoyances discussed by retail CIOs include poorly designed business processes and retail 's poor image with the IT talent emerging from school into the job market

O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

collaborative planning forecasting and replenishment


An empirical investigation of the influences of the degree of interactivity on user-outcomes in a multimedia environment The study reported here investigates the influence of `` interactivity '' on the learning outcomes of users in a multimedia systems environment . Drawing from past literature base and based on key tenets of three learning theories - behaviorist , cognitivist , and constructivist - the study first proposes a measurement scheme for `` interactivity '' and then hypothesizes that `` interactivity '' would influence the learning outcomes positively in terms of users ' learning achievement and attitude . Three prototypes of a multimedia instructional/training system to represent high , low , and noninteractive modes of use were developed and implemented and the hypothesized influences were investigated using a controlled laboratory research design . Multiple analysis of variance -LRB- MANOVA -RRB- results indicate that while interactivity does not necessarily enable enhanced gain in user learning , it positively influences participants ' attitude . The study finds no support for hypothesized moderating effects of learning styles -LRB- measured using Kolb 's Learning Style Inventory scale -RRB- on the relationship between interactivity and user outcomes . The results of this study have important implications for both education and corporations ' training efforts and investments . Implications and future research directions are discussed

O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O

interactivity
user outcomes
learning outcomes
measurement scheme
multiple analysis of variance
manova
education
corporations
multimedia systems environment

behaviorist learning theories
cognitivist learning theories
constructivist learning theories
user attitude
training system
kolb learning style inventory scale


Medical image computing at the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science in Medicine , University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf The author reviews the history of medical image computing at his institute , summarizes the achievements , sketches some of the difficulties encountered , and draws conclusions that might be of interest especially to people new to the field . The origin and history section provides a chronology of this work , emphasizing the milestones reached during the past three decades . In accordance with the author 's group 's focus on imaging , the paper is accompanied by many pictures , some of which , he thinks , are of historical value

O O O O O B I I I I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

institute of mathematics and computer science in medicine

university hospital hamburg-eppendorf
medical image computing history
medical diagnostic imaging
work chronology


A column generation approach to delivery planning over time with inhomogeneous service providers and service interval constraints We consider a problem of delivery planning over multiple time periods . Deliveries must be made to customers having nominated demand in each time period . Demand must be met in each time period by use of some combination of inhomogeneous service providers . Each service provider has a different delivery capacity , different cost of delivery to each customer , a different utilisation requirement , and different rules governing the spread of deliveries in time . The problem is to plan deliveries so as to minimise overall costs , subject to demand being met and service rules obeyed . A natural integer programming model was found to be intractable , except on problems with loose demand constraints , with gaps between best lower bound and best feasible solution of up to 35.1 % , with an average of 15.4 % over the test data set . In all but the problem with loosest demand constraints , Cplex 6.5 applied to this formulation failed to find the optimal solution before running out of memory . However a column generation approach improved the lower bound by between 0.6 % and 21.9 % , with an average of 9.9 % , and in all cases found the optimal solution at the root node , without requiring branching

O B I I O B I I I O B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

column generation approach
delivery planning over time
inhomogeneous service providers
service interval constraints
delivery capacity
lower bound


One and two facility network design revisited The one facility one commodity network design problem -LRB- OFOC -RRB- with nonnegative flow costs considers the problem of sending d units of flow from a source to a destination where arc capacity is purchased in batches of C units . The two facility problem -LRB- TFOC -RRB- is similar , but capacity can be purchased either in batches of C units or one unit . Flow costs are zero . These problems are known to be NP-hard . We describe an exact O -LRB- n/sup 3/3/sup n / -RRB- algorithm for these problems based on the repeated use of a bipartite matching algorithm . We also present a better lower bound of Omega -LRB- n/sup 2k * / -RRB- for an earlier Omega -LRB- n/sup 2k / -RRB- algorithm described in the literature where k = -LSB- d/C -RSB- and k * = min -LCB- k , -LSB- -LRB- n 2 -RRB- / 2 -RSB- -RCB- . The matching algorithm is faster than this one for k > or = -LSB- -LRB- n - 2 -RRB- / 2 -RSB- . Finally , we provide another reformulation of the problem that is quasi integral . This property could be useful in designing a modified version of the simplex method to solve the problem using a sequence of pivots with integer extreme solutions , referred to as the integral simplex method in the literature

O O B I I I O O B I I I I I I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O


Parallel interior point schemes for solving multistage convex programming The predictor-corrector interior-point path-following algorithm is promising in solving multistage convex programming problems . Among many other general good features of this algorithm , especially attractive is that the algorithm allows the possibility to parallelise the major computations . The dynamic structure of the multistage problems specifies a block-tridiagonal system at each Newton step of the algorithm . A wrap-around permutation is then used to implement the parallel computation for this step

B I I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O

parallel interior point schemes
multistage convex programming
dynamic structure
newton step
parallel computation


Project scheduling under time dependent costs-a branch and bound algorithm In a given project network , execution of each activity in normal duration requires utilization of certain resources . If faster execution of an activity is desired then additional resources at extra cost would be required . Given a project network , the cost structure for each activity and a planning horizon , the project compression problem is concerned with the determination of optimal schedule of performing each activity while satisfying given restrictions and minimizing the total cost of project execution . The paper considers the project compression problem with time dependent cost structure for each activity . The planning horizon is divided into several regular time intervals over which the cost structure of an activity may vary . But the cost structure of the activities remains the same within a time interval . The objective is to find an optimal project schedule minimizing the total project cost . We present a mathematical model for this problem , develop some heuristics and an exact branch and bound algorithm . Using simulated problems we provide an insight into the computational performances of heuristics and the branch and bound algorithm

B I O O O O B I I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I I I

project scheduling
branch and bound algorithm
project network
planning horizon
project compression problem
optimal schedule
heuristics


A regularized conjugate gradient method for symmetric positive definite system of linear equations A class of regularized conjugate gradient methods is presented for solving the large sparse system of linear equations of which the coefficient matrix is an ill-conditioned symmetric positive definite matrix . The convergence properties of these methods are discussed in depth , and the best possible choices of the parameters involved in the new methods are investigated in detail . Numerical computations show that the new methods are more efficient and robust than both classical relaxation methods and classical conjugate direction methods

O B I I I O B I I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I I I

regularized conjugate gradient method
symmetric positive definite system
linear equations
large sparse system
coefficient matrix
convergence properties
classical relaxation methods
classical conjugate direction methods


Minimised geometric Buchberger algorithm for integer programming Recently , various algebraic integer programming -LRB- IP -RRB- solvers have been proposed based on the theory of Grobner bases . The main difficulty of these solvers is the size of the Grobner bases generated . In algorithms proposed so far , large Grobner bases are generated by either introducing additional variables or by considering the generic IP problem IP/sub A , C / . Some improvements have been proposed such as Hosten and Sturmfels ' method -LRB- GRIN -RRB- designed to avoid additional variables and Thomas ' truncated Grobner basis method which computes the reduced Grobner basis for a specific IP problem IP/sub A , C / -LRB- b -RRB- -LRB- rather than its generalisation IPA , C -RRB- . In this paper we propose a new algebraic algorithm for solving IP problems . The new algorithm , called Minimised Geometric Buchberger Algorithm , combines Hosten and Sturmfels ' GRIN and Thomas ' truncated Grobner basis method to compute the fundamental segments of an IP problem IP/sub A , C / directly in its original space and also the truncated Grobner basis for a specific IP problem IP/sub A , C / -LRB- b -RRB- . We have carried out experiments to compare this algorithm with others such as the geometric Buchberger algorithm , the truncated geometric Buchberger algorithm and the algorithm in GRIN . These experiments show that the new algorithm offers significant performance improvement

B I I I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

minimised geometric buchberger algorithm

truncated geometric buchberger algorithm


Business school research : bridging the gap between producers and consumers There has been a great deal of continuing discussion concerning the seemingly unbridgeable gap between so much of the research produced by business school professors and the needs of the business people who , ideally , would use it . Here , we examine this gap and suggest a model for bridging it . We sample four groups of people , business school academics -LRB- professors -RRB- , deans of business schools , executive MBA students/recent graduates , and senior business executives . Each group rates 44 different -LRB- potential -RRB- properties of exemplary research . We analyze within-group differences , and more meaningfully , between-group differences . We then offer commentary on the results and use the results to develop the aforementioned suggestions for bridging the gap we find

B I O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

business school
producers
consumers
professors
business people
academics
deans
senior business executives
exemplary research

students
recent graduates
within-group differences
between-group differences
anova
coefficient of concordance
multiple comparison testing


Spatial solutions -LSB- office furniture -RSB- Take the stress out of the office by considering the design of furniture and staff needs , before major buying decisions

O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I

office furniture
staff needs
buying decisions


Unlocking the potential of videoconferencing I propose in this paper to show , through a number of case studies , that videoconferencing is user-friendly , cost-effective , time-effective and life-enhancing for people of all ages and abilities and that it requires only a creative and imaginative approach to unlock its potential . I believe that these benefits need not , and should not , be restricted to the education sector . My examples will range from simple storytelling , through accessing international experts , professional development and distance learning in a variety of forms , to the use of videoconferencing for virtual meetings and planning sessions . In some cases , extracts from the reactions and responses of the participants will be included to illustrate the impact of the medium

O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

videoconferencing
benefits
case studies
education


Numerical validation of solutions of complementarity problems : the nonlinear case This paper proposes a validation method for solutions of nonlinear complementarity problems . The validation procedure performs a computational test . If the result of the test is positive , then it is guaranteed that a given multi-dimensional interval either includes a solution or excludes all solutions of the nonlinear complementarity problem

B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I

numerical validation
computational test
nonlinear complementarity problem


Convergence of a finite volume scheme for nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations One approximates the entropy weak solution u of a nonlinear parabolic degenerate equation u/sub t / + div -LRB- qf -LRB- u -RRB- -RRB- - Delta phi -LRB- u -RRB- = 0 by a piecewise constant function u/sub D / using a discretization D in space and time and a finite volume scheme . The convergence of u/sub D / to u is shown as the size of the space and time steps tend to zero . In a first step , estimates on u/sub D / are used to prove the convergence , up to a subsequence , of u/sub D / to a measure valued entropy solution -LRB- called here an entropy process solution -RRB- . A result of uniqueness of the entropy process solution is proved , yielding the strong convergence of u/sub D / to u . Some numerical results on a model equation are shown

O O O B I I O B I I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O


Chaos theory as a framework for studying information systems This paper introduces chaos theory as a means of studying information systems . It argues that chaos theory , combined with new techniques for discovering patterns in complex quantitative and qualitative evidence , offers a potentially more substantive approach to understand the nature of information systems in a variety of contexts . The paper introduces chaos theory concepts by way of an illustrative research design

B I O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O

chaos theory
information systems
qualitative evidence

pattern discovery
complex quantitative evidence


Mission planning for regional surveillance The regional surveillance problem discussed involves formulating a flight route for an aircraft to scan a given geographical region . Aerial surveillance is conducted using a synthetic aperture radar device mounted on the aircraft to compose a complete , high-resolution image of the region . Two models for determining an optimised flight route are described , the first employing integer programming and the second , genetic algorithms . A comparison of the solution optimality in terms of the total distance travelled , and model efficiency of the two techniques in terms of their required CPU times , is made in order to identify the conditions under which it is appropriate to apply each model

B I O B I O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

mission planning
regional surveillance
flight route
aerial surveillance
synthetic aperture radar device
integer programming
genetic algorithms
solution optimality
total distance travelled

geographical region scanning
high-resolution image
optimised flight route


VSAT technology aids growth Choosing to migrate to IP-based applications also means deciding whether terrestrial technologies such as frame relay , DSL or `` plain old telephone service '' -LRB- POTS -RRB- can provide the scalability , flexibility and high bandwidth required to support those applications , and whether these technologies can do so affordably . Each option has its tradeoffs . Also , in each case , retailers with nationwide chains have to deal with multiple last-mile service providers for service installation and network maintenance . Because of this , many retailers are selecting two-way satellite networking technology -LRB- frequently referred to as VSAT -RRB- as the technology of choice for always-on , nationwide , high-speed connectivity coupled with end-to-end network ownership and favorable economics . Enterprises are adopting VSAT platforms not only for emerging IP and Web-based applications , but also for mission-critical , front-office functions such as credit authorization and point-of-sale polling

B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


Examining children 's reading performance and preference for different computer-displayed text This study investigated how common online text affects reading performance of elementary school-age children by examining the actual and perceived readability of four computer-displayed typefaces at 12 - and 14-point sizes . Twenty-seven children , ages 9 to 11 , were asked to read eight children 's passages and identify erroneous/substituted words while reading . Comic Sans MS , Arial and Times New Roman typefaces , regardless of size , were found to be more readable -LRB- as measured by a reading efficiency score -RRB- than Courier New . No differences in reading speed were found for any of the typeface combinations . In general , the 14-point size and the examined sans serif typefaces were perceived as being the easiest to read , fastest , most attractive , and most desirable for school-related material . In addition , participants significantly preferred Comic Sans MS and 14-point Arial to 12-point Courier . Recommendations for appropriate typeface combinations for children reading on computers are discussed

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

child reading performance
computer-displayed text
elementary school-age children
computer-displayed typefaces
fonts
user interface
human factors
educational computing


How airlines and airports recover from schedule perturbations : a survey The explosive growth in air traffic as well as the widespread adoption of Operations Research techniques in airline scheduling has given rise to tight flight schedules at major airports . An undesirable consequence of this is that a minor incident such as a delay in the arrival of a small number of flights can result in a chain reaction of events involving several flights and airports , causing disruption throughout the system . This paper reviews recent literature in the area of recovery from schedule disruptions . First we review how disturbances at a given airport could be handled , including the effects of runways and fixes . Then we study the papers on recovery from airline schedule perturbations , which involve adjustments in flight schedules , aircraft , and crew . The mathematical programming techniques used in ground holding are covered in some detail . We conclude the review with suggestions on how singular perturbation theory could play a role in analyzing disruptions to such highly sensitive schedules as those in the civil aviation industry

O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O B I I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I

operations research techniques
airline scheduling
tight flight schedules
airports
schedule disruptions
recovery
runways
mathematical programming techniques
ground holding
singular perturbation theory
civil aviation industry

air traffic management
schedule perturbation
disturbance handling
flight schedule adjustments
aircraft adjustments
crew adjustments


Airline base schedule optimisation by flight network annealing A system for rigorous airline base schedule optimisation is described . The architecture of the system reflects the underlying problem structure . The architecture is hierarchical consisting of a master problem for logical aircraft schedule optimisation and a sub-problem for schedule evaluation . The sub-problem is made up of a number of component sub-problems including connection generation , passenger choice modelling , passenger traffic allocation by simulation and revenue and cost determination . Schedule optimisation is carried out by means of simulated annealing of flight networks . The operators for the simulated annealing process are feasibility preserving and form a complete set of operators

B I I I O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O B I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B

airline base schedule optimisation
flight network annealing
master problem
logical aircraft schedule optimisation
schedule evaluation
connection generation
passenger choice modelling
passenger traffic allocation
cost determination
simulated annealing
operators

system architecture
hierarchical architecture
time complexity


Minimizing weighted number of early and tardy jobs with a common due window involving location penalty Studies a single machine scheduling problem to minimize the weighted number of early and tardy jobs with a common due window . There are n non-preemptive and simultaneously available jobs . Each job will incur an early -LRB- tardy -RRB- penalty if it is early -LRB- tardy -RRB- with respect to the common due window under a given schedule . The window size is a given parameter but the window location is a decision variable . The objective of the problem is to find a schedule that minimizes the weighted number of early and tardy jobs and the location penalty . We show that the problem is NP-complete in the ordinary sense and develop a dynamic programming based pseudo-polynomial algorithm . We conduct computational experiments , the results of which show that the performance of the dynamic algorithm is very good in terms of memory requirement and CPU time . We also provide polynomial time algorithms for two special cases

O O O O O O B I O O B I I O B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

tardy jobs
common due window
single machine scheduling problem
decision variable
location penalty
dynamic programming

early jobs
np-complete problem
pseudo-polynomial algorithm


MRP in a job shop environment using a resource constrained project scheduling model One of the most difficult tasks in a job shop manufacturing environment is to balance schedule and capacity in an ongoing basis . MRP systems are commonly used for scheduling , although their inability to deal with capacity constraints adequately is a severe drawback . In this study , we show that material requirements planning can be done more effectively in a job shop environment using a resource constrained project scheduling model . The proposed model augments MRP models by incorporating capacity constraints and using variable lead time lengths . The efficacy of this approach is tested on MRP systems by comparing the inventory carrying costs and resource allocation of the solutions obtained by the proposed model to those obtained by using a traditional MRP model . In general , it is concluded that the proposed model provides improved schedules with considerable reductions in inventory carrying costs

B O O B I I O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I I O O B I I I I O O O O O B O O O B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I


Elastic constraint branching , the Wedelin/Carmen Lagrangian heuristic and integer programming for personnel scheduling The Wedelin algorithm is a Lagrangian based heuristic that is being successfully used by Carmen Systems to solve large crew pairing problems within the airline industry . We extend the Wedelin approach by developing an implementation for personnel scheduling problems -LRB- also termed staff rostering problems -RRB- that exploits the special structure of these problems . We also introduce elastic constraint branching with the twin aims of improving the performance of our new approach and making it more column generation friendly . Numerical results show that our approach can outperform the commercial solver CPLEX on difficult commercial rostering problems

B I I O O O O O O B I O B I O B I O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O B I I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

elastic constraint branching
integer programming
personnel scheduling
wedelin algorithm
lagrangian based heuristic
carmen systems
large crew pairing problems
airline industry
staff rostering problems


Combining constraint programming and linear programming on an example of bus driver scheduling Provides details of a successful application where the column generation algorithm was used to combine constraint programming and linear programming . In the past , constraint programming and linear programming were considered to be two competing technologies that solved similar types of problems . Both these technologies had their strengths and weaknesses . The paper shows that the two technologies can be combined together to extract the strengths of both these technologies . Details of a real-world application to optimize bus driver duties are given . This system was developed by ILOG for a major software house in Japan using ILOG-Solver and ILOG-CPLEX , constraint programming and linear programming C/C + + libraries

O B I O B I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O B I O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O

constraint programming
linear programming
bus driver scheduling
column generation algorithm
ilog


Healthy , wealthy and wise ? -LSB- health sector document management -RSB- NHS spending will rise from Pounds 65.4 bn in 2002 to Pounds 87.2 bn in 2006 , and by 2008 , spending will total Pounds 105.6 bn . David Tyler looks at how the health sector is already beginning to exploit IT , and particularly document management , to improve service and cut costs

O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O O O


Supply chain optimisation in the paper industry We describe the formulation and development of a supply-chain optimisation model for Fletcher Challenge Paper Australasia -LRB- FCPA -RRB- . This model , known as the paper industry value optimisation tool -LRB- PIVOT -RRB- , is a large mixed integer program that finds an optimal allocation of supplier to mill , product to paper machine , and paper machine to customer , while at the same time modelling many of the supply chain details and nuances which are peculiar to FCPA . PIVOT has assisted FCPA in solving a number of strategic and tactical decision problems , and provided significant economic benefits for the company

B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O B O O O O B I I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O O

supply chain optimisation
fletcher challenge paper australasia
paper industry value optimisation tool
pivot
large mixed integer program
optimal allocation
tactical decision problems
economic benefits


Effects of the transition to a client-centred team organization in administrative surveying work A new work organization was introduced in administrative surveying work in Sweden during 1998 . The new work organization implied a transition to a client-centred team-based organization and required a change in competence from specialist to generalist knowledge as well as a transition to a new information technology , implying a greater integration within the company . The aim of this study was to follow the surveyors for two years from the start of the transition and investigate how perceived consequences of the transition , job , organizational factors , well-being and effectiveness measures changed between 1998 and 2000 . The Teamwork Profile and QPS Nordic questionnaire were used . The 205 surveyors who participated in all three study phases constituted the study group . The result showed that surveyors who perceived that they were working as generalists rated the improvements in job and organizational factors significantly higher than those who perceived that they were not yet generalists . Improvements were noted in 2000 in quality of service to clients , time available to handle a case and effectiveness of teamwork in a transfer to a team-based work organization group , cohesion and continuous improvement practices-for example , learning by doing , mentoring and guided delegation-were important to improve the social effectiveness of group work

O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O

administrative surveying work
information technology
company
job
organizational factors
effectiveness measures
teamwork profile
qps nordic questionnaire
social effectiveness

client-centred team organization
public administrative sector


Office essentials -LSB- stationery suppliers -RSB- Make purchasing stationery a relatively simple task through effective planning and management of stock , and identifying the right supplier

O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O B O B I I O O O O O O

stationery suppliers
purchasing
planning
management of stock


Connecting the business without busting the budget The `` multi-channel content delivery '' model -LRB- MCCD -RRB- might be a new concept to you , but it is already beginning to replace traditional methods of business communications , print and content delivery , argues Darren Atkinson , CTO , FormScape

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B

multi-channel content delivery
documents
distributed output management
business process management
archive
retrieval
content management


Impact of user satisfaction and trust on virtual team members Pressured by the growing need for fast response times , mass customization , and globalization , many organizations are turning to flexible organizational forms , such as virtual teams . Virtual teams consist of cooperative relationships supported by information technology to overcome limitations of time and/or location . Virtual teams require their members to rely heavily on the use of information technology and trust in coworkers . This study investigates the impacts that the reliance on information technology -LRB- operationalized in our study via the user satisfaction construct -RRB- and trust have on the job satisfaction of virtual team members . The study findings reveal that both user satisfaction and trust are positively related to job satisfaction in virtual teams , while system use was not found to play a significant role . These findings emphasize that organizations seeking the benefits of flexible , IT-enabled virtual teams must consider both the level of trust among colleagues , and the users ' satisfaction with the information technology on which virtual teams rely

O O B I O B O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O

information technology
trust
user satisfaction
job satisfaction
virtual team members


An experimental evaluation of comprehensibility aspects of knowledge structures derived through induction techniques : a case study of industrial fault diagnosis Machine induction has been extensively used in order to develop knowledge bases for decision support systems and predictive systems . The extent to which developers and domain experts can comprehend these knowledge structures and gain useful insights into the basis of decision making has become a challenging research issue . This article examines the knowledge structures generated by the C4 .5 induction technique in a fault diagnostic task and proposes to use a model of human learning in order to guide the process of making comprehensive the results of machine induction . The model of learning is used to generate hierarchical representations of diagnostic knowledge by adjusting the level of abstraction and varying the goal structures between ` shallow ' and ` deep ' ones . Comprehensibility is assessed in a global way in an experimental comparison where subjects are required to acquire the knowledge structures and transfer to new tasks . This method of addressing the issue of comprehensibility appears promising especially for machine induction techniques that are rather inflexible with regard to the number and sorts of interventions allowed to system developers

O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

experimental evaluation
induction techniques
case study
industrial fault diagnosis
knowledge bases
decision support systems
predictive systems

knowledge structure comprehensibility aspects


Monitoring the news online The author looks at how we can focus on what we want , finding small stories in vast oceans of news . There is no one tool that will scan every news resource available and give alerts on new available materials . Every one has a slightly different focus . Some are paid sources , while many are free . If used wisely , an excellent news monitoring system for a large number of topics can be set up for surprisingly little cost

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


Product development : using a 3D computer model to optimize the stability of the Rocket TM powered wheelchair A three-dimensional -LRB- 3D -RRB- lumped-parameter model of a powered wheelchair was created to aid the development of the Rocket prototype wheelchair and to help explore the effect of innovative design features on its stability . The model was developed using simulation software , specifically Working Model 3D . The accuracy of the model was determined by comparing both its static stability angles and dynamic behavior as it passed down a 4.8-cm -LRB- 1.9 '' -RRB- road curb at a heading of 45 degrees with the performance of the actual wheelchair . The model 's predictions of the static stability angles in the forward , rearward , and lateral directions were within 9.3 , 7.1 , and 3.8 % of the measured values , respectively . The average absolute error in the predicted position of the wheelchair as it moved down the curb was 2.2 cm/m -LRB- 0.9 '' per 3 ' 3 '' -RRB- traveled . The accuracy was limited by the inability to model soft bodies , the inherent difficulties in modeling a statically indeterminate system , and the computing time . Nevertheless , it was found to be useful in investigating the effect of eight design alterations on the lateral stability of the wheelchair . Stability was quantified by determining the static lateral stability angles and the maximum height of a road curb over which the wheelchair could successfully drive on a diagonal heading . The model predicted that the stability was more dependent on the configuration of the suspension system than on the dimensions and weight distribution of the wheelchair . Furthermore , for the situations and design alterations studied , predicted improvements in static stability were not correlated with improvements in dynamic stability

B I O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

3d computer model
product development
innovative design features
average absolute error
predicted position
statically indeterminate system
computing time
diagonal heading
weight distribution
rocket tm powered wheelchair

suspension system configuration
dynamic stability improvements
soft bodies modeling
design alterations effect
4.8 cm


Passing the image test -LSB- imaging accreditation -RSB- Accredited imaging qualifications , hot on the heels of Microsoft , Cisco and others , are taking off in the USA . Dave Tyler looks at the CDIA + qualification that looks likely to become the exam of choice for the DM industry

O O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


Data mining efforts increase business productivity and efficiency The use and acquisition of information is a key part of the way any business makes money . Data mining technologies provide greater insight into how this information can be better used and more effectively acquired . Steven Kudyba , an expert in the field of data mining technologies , shares his expertise in an interview

B I O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O


The best circulant preconditioners for Hermitian Toeplitz systems.II . The multiple-zero case For pt.I . see SIAM J. Numer . Anal. , vol . 38 , p. 876-896 . Circulant-type preconditioners have been proposed previously for ill-conditioned Hermitian Toeplitz systems that are generated by nonnegative continuous functions with a zero of even order . The proposed circulant preconditioners can be constructed without requiring explicit knowledge of the generating functions . It was shown that the spectra of the preconditioned matrices are uniformly bounded except for a fixed number of outliers and that all eigenvalues are uniformly bounded away from zero . Therefore the conjugate gradient method converges linearly when applied to solving the circulant preconditioned systems . Previously it was claimed that this result can be extended to the case where the generating functions have multiple zeros . The main aim of this paper is to give a complete convergence proof of the method for this class of generating functions

O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

circulant preconditioners
hermitian toeplitz systems
nonnegative continuous functions
generating functions
preconditioned matrices
eigenvalues
conjugate gradient method


Mobile commerce : transforming the vision into reality This editorial preface investigates current developments in mobile commerce -LRB- M-commerce -RRB- and proposes an integrated architecture that supports business and consumer needs in an optimal way to successfully implement M-commerce business processes . The key line of thought is based on the heuristic observation that customers will not want to receive M-commerce offerings to their mobile telephones . As a result , a pull as opposed to a push approach becomes a necessary requirement to conduct M-commerce . In addition , M-commerce has to rely on local , regional , demographic and many other variables to be truly effective . Both observations necessitate an M-commerce architecture that allows the coherent integration of enterprise-level systems as well as the aggregation of product and service offerings from many different and partially competing parties into a collaborative M-commerce platform . The key software component within this integrated architecture is an event management engine to monitor , detect , store , process and measure information about outside events that are relevant to all participants in M-commerce

B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

mobile commerce
integrated architecture
consumer needs
mobile telephones
event management engine

m-commerce
business needs
pull approach
collaborative platform


Cane railway scheduling via constraint logic programming : labelling order and constraints in a real-life application In Australia , cane transport is the largest unit cost in the manufacturing of raw sugar , making up around 35 % of the total manufacturing costs . Producing efficient schedules for the cane railways can result in significant cost savings . The paper presents a study using constraint logic programming -LRB- CLP -RRB- to solve the cane transport scheduling problem . Tailored heuristic labelling order and constraints strategies are proposed and encouraging results of application to several test problems and one real-life case are presented . The preliminary results demonstrate that CLP can be used as an effective tool for solving the cane transport scheduling problem , with a potential decrease in development costs of the scheduling system . It can also be used as an efficient tool for rescheduling tasks which the existing cane transport scheduling system can not perform well

B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O

cane railway scheduling
constraint logic programming
cane transport
raw sugar
total manufacturing costs
cost savings
heuristic labelling order
constraints strategies


H-matrix approximation for the operator exponential with applications We previously developed a data-sparse and accurate approximation to parabolic solution operators in the case of a rather general elliptic part given by a strongly P-positive operator . Also a class of matrices -LRB- H-matrices -RRB- has been analysed which are data-sparse and allow an approximate matrix arithmetic with almost linear complexity . In particular , the matrix-vector/matrix-matrix product with such matrices as well as the computation of the inverse have linear-logarithmic cost . In this paper , we apply the H-matrix techniques to approximate the exponent of an elliptic operator . Starting with the Dunford-Cauchy representation for the operator exponent , we then discretise the integral by the exponentially convergent quadrature rule involving a short sum of resolvents . The latter are approximated by the H-matrices . Our algorithm inherits a two-level parallelism with respect to both the computation of resolvents and the treatment of different time values . In the case of smooth data -LRB- coefficients , boundaries -RRB- , we prove the linear-logarithmic complexity of the method

O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

h-matrix approximation
data-sparse approximation
dunford-cauchy representation
strongly p-positive operator


Breaking the myths of rewards : an exploratory study of attitudes about knowledge sharing Many CEO and managers understand the importance of knowledge sharing among their employees and are eager to introduce the knowledge management paradigm in their organizations . However little is known about the determinants of the individual 's knowledge sharing behavior . The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the factors affecting the individual 's knowledge sharing behavior in the organizational context . The research model includes various constructs based on social exchange theory , self-efficacy , and theory of reasoned action . Research results from the field survey of 467 employees of four large , public organizations show that expected associations and contribution are the major determinants of the individual 's attitude toward knowledge sharing . Expected rewards , believed by many to be the most important motivating factor for knowledge sharing , are not significantly related to the attitude toward knowledge sharing . As expected , positive attitude toward knowledge sharing is found to lead to positive intention to share knowledge and , finally , to actual knowledge sharing behaviors

O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O

knowledge sharing
knowledge management
social exchange theory
theory of reasoned action
public organizations
rewards


An operations research approach to the problem of the sugar cane selection Selection for superior clones is the most important aspect of sugar cane improvement programs , and is a long and expensive process . While studies have investigated different components of selection independently , there has not been a whole system approach to improve the process . This study observes the problem as an integrated system , where if one parameter changes the state of the whole system changes . A computer based stochastic simulation model that accurately represents the selection was developed . The paper describes the simulation model , showing its accuracy as well as how a combination of dynamic programming and branch and bound can be applied to the model to optimise the selection system , giving a new application of these techniques . The model can be directly applied to any region targeted by sugar cane breeding programs or to other clonally propagated crops

O B I I O O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I


Low to mid-speed copiers -LSB- buyer 's guide -RSB- The low to mid-speed copier market is being transformed by the almost universal adoption of digital solutions . The days of the analogue copier are numbered as the remaining vendors plan to withdraw from this sector by 2005 . Reflecting the growing market for digital , vendors are reducing prices , making a digital solution much more affordable . The battle for the copier market is intense , and the popularity of the multifunctional device is going to transform the office equipment market . As total cost of ownership becomes increasingly important and as budgets are squeezed , the most cost-effective solutions are those that will survive this shake-down

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


An optimization based approach to the train operator scheduling problem at Singapore MRT Singapore Mass Rapid Transit -LRB- SMRT -RRB- operates two train lines with 83 kilometers of track and 48 stations . A total of 77 trains are in operation during peak hours and 41 during off-peak hours . We report on an optimization based approach to develop a computerized train-operator scheduling system that has been implemented at SMRT . The approach involves a bipartite matching algorithm for the generation of night duties and a tabu search algorithm for the generation of day duties . The system automates the train-operator scheduling process at SMRT and produces favorable schedules in comparison with the manual process . It is also able to handle the multiple objectives inherent in the crew scheduling system . While trying to minimize the system wide crew-related costs , the system is also able to address concern with respect to the number of split duties

O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

optimization based approach
singapore mass rapid transit
bipartite matching algorithm
night duties
tabu search algorithm
day duties
crew scheduling system


Use of web technologies in construction project management : what are the critical success/failure factors ? A concept of how the World Wide Web -LRB- WWW -RRB- and its associated technologies can be used to manage construction projects has been recognized by practitioners in the construction industry for quite sometime . This concept is often referred to as a Web-Based Project Management System -LRB- WPMS -RRB- . It promises , to enhance construction project documentation and control , and to revolutionize the way construction project teams process and transmit project information . WPMS is an electronic project-management system conducted through the Internet . The system provides a centralized , commonly accessible , reliable means of transmitting and storing project information . Project information is stored on the server and a standard Web browser is used as the gateway to exchange this information , eliminating geographic and hardware platforms boundary

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

construction industry
project documentation
web browser

web-based project management system
project control
success
implementation