Pioneering women in computer science Although their contributions are not well documented , women have played an important role in the development of computer science . A survey of women pioneers demonstrates their influence in designing and programming the first electronic computers and languages , while laying the groundwork for women 's expanding involvement in science

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

computer science development
programming languages
history


A distributed mobile agent framework for maintaining persistent distance education Mobile agent techniques involve distributed control if communication is required among different types of agents , especially when mobile agents can migrate from station to station . This technique can be implemented in a distributed distance learning environment , which allows students or instructors to login from anywhere to a central server in an education center while still retaining the look-and-feel of personal setups . In this research paper , we propose a distributed agent framework along with its communication messages to facilitate mobile personal agents , which serve three different groups of distance education users : instructors , students , and system administrators . We propose an agent communication framework as well as agent evolution states of mobile agents . The communication architecture and message transmission protocols are illustrated . The system is implemented on the Windows platform to support nomadic accessibility of remote distance learning users . Personal data also migrate with the mobile agents , allowing users to maintain accessibility to some extent even when the Internet connection is temperately disconnected . Using user-friendly personal agents , a distance education platform can include different tools to meet different needs for users

O B I I 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 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 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 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

distributed mobile agent framework
persistent distance education
distributed control
central server
distributed agent framework
message transmission protocols


Local search with constraint propagation and conflict-based heuristics Search algorithms for solving CSP -LRB- Constraint Satisfaction Problems -RRB- usually fall into one of two main families : local search algorithms and systematic algorithms . Both families have their advantages . Designing hybrid approaches seems promising since those advantages may be combined into a single approach . In this paper , we present a new hybrid technique . It performs a local search over partial assignments instead of complete assignments , and uses filtering techniques and conflict-based techniques to efficiently guide the search . This new technique benefits from both classical approaches : a priori pruning of the search space from filtering-based search and possible repair of early mistakes from local search . We focus on a specific version of this technique : tabu decision-repair . Experiments done on open-shop scheduling problems show that our approach competes well with the best highly specialized algorithms

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

search algorithms
csp
constraint satisfaction problems
systematic algorithms
partial assignments
filtering techniques

local search algorithms
tabu decision-repair


Digital rights -LRB- and wrongs -RRB- Attempting to grasp the many conflicts and proposed safeguards for intellectual property is extremely difficult . Legal , political , economic , and cultural issues-both domestic and international-loom large , almost dwarfing the daunting technological challenges . Solutions devised by courts and legislatures and regulatory agencies are always late out of the blocks and fall ever farther behind . Recently proposed legislation only illustrates the depth and complexity of the problem

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

cultural issues
economic issues
political issues
legal issues


Senate to Powell : regulate more -LSB- FCC -RSB- FCC Chairman Michael Powell pitched a six-step market-based recovery plan to the Senate last week , but two members of the Commerce Committee told him telecom 's revival requires more reliance on regulation

O O O O O O O B O B 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

us senate commerce committee
telecom industry


Gender benders -LSB- women in computing profession -RSB- As a minority in the upper levels of the computing profession , women are sometimes mistreated through ignorance or malice . Some women have learned to respond with wit and panache

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


Efficient cellular automata based versatile multiplier for GF -LRB- 2/sup m / -RRB- In this paper , a low-complexity programmable cellular automata -LRB- PCA -RRB- based versatile modular multiplier in GF -LRB- 2/sup m / -RRB- is presented . The proposed versatile multiplier increases flexibility by using the same multiplier in different security environments , and it reduces the user 's cost . Moreover , the multiplier can be easily extended to high order of m for more security , and low-cost serial implementation is feasible in restricted computing environments , such as smart cards and wireless devices

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 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 B I O B I


The Internet , knowledge and the academy As knowledge is released from the bounds of libraries , as research becomes no longer confined to the academy , and education/certification is available , any time/any place , the university and the faculty must redefine themselves . Liberal studies , once the core , and currently eschewed in favor of science and technology , will be reborn in those institutions that can rise above the mundane and embrace an emerging `` third culture ''

O B O B O O B O B 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 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

internet
knowledge
academy
university
faculty
liberal studies


Strategic implementation of IT/IS projects in construction : a case study The need for improved implementation of Information Technology -LRB- IT -RRB- and Information Systems -LRB- IS -RRB- has been emphasised in both empirical and prescriptive research studies . This problem is magnified in the construction industry , which has been slow to embrace and utilise new technologies with negative consequences on productivity and innovation . This paper presents a strategic implementation framework for IT/IS projects in construction . The framework builds upon recent published works and encompasses well-documented predictors for effective IT/IS implementation . A case study with a large multi-national construction organisation is used to demonstrate the strategic implementation of a Project Management Information System -LRB- PMIS -RRB- used for the construction of a mobile phone telecommunications network in the South East of Queensland , Australia

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

strategic implementation
construction industry
predictors
information technology
information systems
project management information system
mobile phone telecommunications network


Williams nears end of Chapter 11 -LSB- telecom -RSB- Leucadia National Corp. comes through with a $ 330 million boost for Williams Communications , which should keep the carrier afloat through the remainder of its bankruptcy

O O O O O 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 O O O B

leucadia national corp
williams communications
bankruptcy


Reinventing broadband Many believe that broadband providers need to change their whole approach . The future , then , is in reinventing broadband . That means tiered pricing to make broadband more competitive with dial-up access and livelier , more distinct content : video on demand , MP3 , and other features exclusive to the fat-pipe superhighway

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

mp3
video on demand
tiered pricing
broadband


Bit-serial AB/sup 2 / multiplier using modified inner product This paper presents a new multiplication algorithm and , based on this algorithm , proposes a hardware architecture , called modified inner-product multiplier -LRB- MIPM -RRB- , which computes AB/sup 2 / multiplication based on a linear feedback shift register -LRB- LFSR -RRB- . The algorithm is based on the property of the irreducible all one polynomial -LRB- AOP -RRB- over the finite field GF -LRB- 2/sup m / -RRB- . The proposed architecture reduces the time and space complexity for computing AB/sup 2 / . The proposed architecture has a potential application to implementing exponentiation architecture for a public-key cryptosystem

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

modified inner product
multiplication algorithm
hardware architecture
linear feedback shift register
irreducible all one polynomial
space complexity

bit-serial ab/sup 2/ multiplier
modified inner-product multiplier
time complexity
public-key cryptosystem


Becoming a computer scientist The focus of this report is pipeline shrinkage for women in computer science . We describe the situation for women at all stages of training in computer science , from the precollege level through graduate school . Because many of the problems discussed are related to the lack of role models for women who are in the process of becoming computer scientists , we also concern ourselves with the status of women faculty members . We not only describe the problems , but also make specific recommendations for change and encourage further study of those problems whose solutions are not yet well understood

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

pipeline shrinkage
women
computer science
role models


Santera targets independents in major strategy overhaul -LSB- telecom -RSB- With big carriers slashing capital expense budgets , Santera Systems is broadening the reach of its next-generation switching platform to include independent telcos . This week , the vendor will announce that it has signed a deal with Kerman , Calif-based Kerman Telephone Co. . Furthermore , the company is angling for inclusion in the Rural Utilities Service 's approved equipment list , hoping to sell its Class 5 replacement boxes to the smallest carriers . The move is almost a complete reversal for the Plano , Texas-based vendor , which previously focused solely on large carriers , including the RBOCs

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 B I 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

santera systems
switching
kerman telephone
rural utilities service


Yet some more complexity results for default logic We identify several new tractable subsets and several new intractable simple cases for reasoning in the propositional version of Reiter 's default logic . The majority of our findings are related to brave reasoning . By making some intuitive observations , most classes that we identify can be derived quite easily from some subsets of default logic already known in the literature . Some of the subsets we discuss are subclasses of the so-called `` extended logic programs '' . All the tractable subsets presented in this paper can be recognized in linear time

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

reasoning
default logic
complexity results
extended logic programs
tractable subsets

complexity classes
nonmonotonic reasoning


Summarization beyond sentence extraction : A probabilistic approach to sentence compression When humans produce summaries of documents , they do not simply extract sentences and concatenate them . Rather , they create new sentences that are grammatical , that cohere with one another , and that capture the most salient pieces of information in the original document . Given that large collections of text/abstract pairs are available online , it is now possible to envision algorithms that are trained to mimic this process . In this paper , we focus on sentence compression , a simpler version of this larger challenge . We aim to achieve two goals simultaneously : our compressions should be grammatical , and they should retain the most important pieces of information . These two goals can conflict . We devise both a noisy-channel and a decision-tree approach to the problem , and we evaluate results against manual compressions and a simple baseline

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

noisy-channel
decision-tree
document summarization


Software vendors ' failure fuels consolidation theories -LSB- telecom interconnection and billing -RSB- As independent software vendors like AP Engines fall by the wayside as independent entities , attrition could accelerate consolidation in the OSS space

O O O O O B 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 B O O O O

telecom interconnection
consolidation
ap engines

telecom billing
operations supports systems
quintessent


Gender , software design , and occupational equity After reviewing the work on gender bias in software design , a model of gender-role influenced achievement choice taken from Eccles -LRB- 1994 -RRB- is presented . The paper concludes that -LRB- 1 -RRB- though laudable , reduction of gender bias in software design is not the most straightforward way to reduce gender inequity in the choice of computing as a career , -LRB- 2 -RRB- the model itself makes more clear some of the ethical issues involved in attempting to achieve gender equity on computing , and -LRB- 3 -RRB- efforts to reduce gender inequity in the choice of computing as a career need to be evaluated in the light of this model

O O B I O 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 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 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

gender bias
software design
ethical issues
occupational equity

gender-role influenced achievement choice model


A gendered view of computer professionals : preliminary results of a survey The under-representation of women in the computing profession in many parts the western world has received our attention through numerous publications , the noticeable low representation of women at computer science conferences and in the lecture halls . Over the past two decades , the situation had become worse . This paper seeks to add to the dialogue by presenting preliminary findings from a research project conducted in four countries . The aim of this research was to gain an insight into the perceptions future computer professionals hold on the category of employment loosely defined under the term of `` a computer professional . '' One goal was to get insight into whether or not there is a difference between female and mate students regarding their view of computer professionals . Other goals were to determine if there was any difference between female and male students in different parts of the world , as well as who or what most influences the students to undertake their courses in computing

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 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 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

computing profession
employment
mate students

future computer professional perceptions


The real story behind Calpoint -LSB- telecom -RSB- A former Qwest executive sheds light on the carrier 's controversial deal with Calpoint . Discusses why Calpoint gets a monthly check from Quest , regardless of whether it provides services

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


Estimation of thermal coefficients of magneto-optical media Previously we described a method for estimating the thermal conductivity of magneto-optic recording media . The method relies on identifying the laser power that brings the maximum temperature of the TbFeCo layer to as high as the Curie temperature . We extensively use a similar method to estimate the heat capacity of a dielectric layer , a TbFeCo layer , and an aluminum alloy layer of magneto-optic recording media . Measurements are conducted on static disks with a beam of light focused on a TbFeCo layer . The method has the advantage of thermal diffusion depending on a multilayer structure and irradiation time

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

thermal coefficients
thermal conductivity
laser power
maximum temperature
tbfeco layer
curie temperature
dielectric layer
heat capacity
aluminum alloy layer
static disks
thermal diffusion
multilayer structure
irradiation time

magneto-optical media
magneto-optic recording media
light focusing
tbfeco


Women in computing : what brings them to it , what keeps them in it ? Career stereotyping and misperceptions about the nature of computing are substantive reasons for the under representation of women in professional computing careers . In this study , 15 women who have work experience in several aspects of computing were asked about their reasons for entering computing , what they liked about working in computing , and what they disliked . While there are many common threads , there are also individual differences . Common reasons for choosing computing as a career included : exposure to computing in a setting which enabled them to see the versatility of computers ; the influence of someone close to them ; personal abilities which they perceived to be appropriate for a career in computing ; and characteristics of such careers which appealed to them . Generally , women working in the field enjoy the work they are doing . Dislikes arising from their work experiences are more likely to be associated with people and politics than with the work they do-and they would like to have more female colleagues

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

career stereotyping
personal abilities
politics
misperceptions
women
professional computing careers


Packet promises past & present -LSB- IP switching -RSB- With the death of the competitive carrier market and the significant slashing of RBOC capex budgets , softswitch vendors have been forced to retrench . Now instead of focusing primarily on limited Internet off-load applications , packet-based softswitches are set to gel around real user needs for services such as voice over IP and IP Centrex

O O 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 B I I O B I

softswitch vendors
voice over ip
ip centrex


Genetic algorithm-neural network estimation of Cobb angle from torso asymmetry in scoliosis Scoliosis severity , measured by the Cobb angle , was estimated by artificial neural network from indices of torso surface asymmetry using a genetic algorithm to select the optimal set of input torso indices . Estimates of the Cobb angle were accurate within 5 degrees in two-thirds , and within 10 degrees in six-sevenths , of a test set of 115 scans of 48 scoliosis patients , showing promise for future longitudinal studies to detect scoliosis progression without use of X-rays

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

cobb angle
artificial neural network
torso surface asymmetry
genetic algorithm
input torso indices
scoliosis patients
scoliosis progression


Commerce Department plan eases 3G spectrum crunch The federal government made its first move last week toward cleaning up a spectrum allocation system that was in shambles just a year ago and had some , spectrum-starved wireless carriers fearing they would n't be able to compete in third-generation services . The move , however , is far from complete and leaves numerous details unsettled

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 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

3g spectrum
federal government
spectrum allocation system
wireless carriers


Recruitment and retention of women graduate students in computer science and engineering : results of a workshop organized by the Computing Research Association This document is the report of a workshop that convened a group of experts to discuss the recruitment and retention of women in computer science and engineering -LRB- CSE -RRB- graduate programs . Participants included long-time members of the CSE academic and research communities , social scientists engaged in relevant research , and directors of successful retention efforts . The report is a compendium of the experience and expertise of workshop participants , rather than the result of a full-scale , scholarly study into the range of issues . Its goal is to provide departments with practical advice on recruitment and retention in the form of a set of specific recommendations

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

recruitment
retention
women graduate students
computer science
engineering
computing research association
social scientists
research communities
directors
workshop participants


Influence of advertising expenses on the characteristics of functioning of an insurance company The basic characteristics of the functioning of an insurance company , including the average capital , ruin and survival probabilities , and the conditional time before ruin , are examined with allowance for advertising expenses

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

average capital
survival probabilities
conditional time

insurance company functioning characteristics


Multiple criteria decision making without optimization We present a development intended to make interactive decision making schemes accessible for a wider spectrum of decision makers . To this aim we propose to eliminate the need to solve optimization problems at successive iterations of interactive decision processes . We show that the need for optimization can be eliminated by the ability of establishing sufficiently tight bounds on criteria values for efficient decisions prior to explicit identification of such decisions . We present a technique , fully operational and numerically simple , for establishing such bounds . Bounds are dynamic , i.e. , they become stronger with the growing number of decisions explicitly identified . They are also parametric with respect to weighting coefficients . We also point out how this technique can enhance the existing interactive decision making methods

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

multiple criteria decision making
interactive decision making schemes
decision makers
efficient decisions


` Virtual Family ' : an approach to introducing Java programming This paper introduces and discusses Virtual Family -LRB- VF -RRB- : a gender-neutral game-based software that introduces Java programming . VF provides a completely functioning game that students extend and enhance via programming . We discuss the background and context within which Virtual Family was developed and other available multimedia resources for teaching programming . The paper then goes on to describe Virtual Family 's concept and design . Finally , feedback received from Virtual Family teaching workshops is related , as well as preliminary results from using VF in high-school teaching units . Virtual Family is under development in a research lab at the University of British Columbia and is an initiative of Supporting Women in Information Technology -LRB- SWIFT -RRB- . SWIFT is a five-year research action and implementation project to increase the participation of women in information technology

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

supporting women in information technology

gender-neutral game-based software
java programming teaching
high-school teaching units


Achieving competitive capabilities in e-services What implications does the Internet have for service operations strategy ? How can business performance of e-service companies be improved in today 's knowledge-based economy ? These research questions are the subject of the paper . We propose a model that links the e-service company 's knowledge-based competencies with their competitive capabilities . Drawing from the current literature , our analysis suggests that services that strategically build a portfolio of knowledge-based competencies , namely human capital , structural capital , and absorptive capacity have more operations-based options , than their counterparts who are less apt to invest . We assume that the combinative capabilities of service quality , delivery , flexibility , and cost are determined by the investment in intellectual capital . Arguably , with the advent of the Internet , different operating models -LRB- e.g. , bricks-and-mortar , clicks-and-mortar , or pure dot-com -RRB- have different strategic imperatives in terms of knowledge-based competencies . Thus , the new e-operations paradigm can be viewed as a configuration of knowledge-based competencies and capabilities

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

competitive capabilities
internet
service operations strategy
business performance
human capital
structural capital
absorptive capacity
combinative capabilities
service quality
delivery
flexibility
cost
investment
intellectual capital
strategic imperatives

e-services
knowledge-based economy
knowledge-based competencies
operations-based options
bricks-and-mortar
clicks-and-mortar
dot-com


Valuing corporate debt : the effect of cross-holdings of stock and debt We have developed a simple approach to valuing risky corporate debt when corporations own securities issued by other corporations . We assume that corporate debt can be valued as an option on corporate business asset value , and derive payoff functions when there exist cross-holdings of stock or debt between two firms . Next we show that payoff functions with multiple cross-holdings can be solved by the contraction principle . The payoff functions which we derive provide a number of insights about the risk structure of company cross-holdings . First , the Modigliani-Miller theorem can obtain when there exist cross-holdings between firms . Second , by establishing cross-shareholdings each of stock holders distributes a part of its payoff values to the bond holder of the other 's firm , so that both firms can decrease credit risks by cross-shareholdings . In the numerical examples , we show that the correlation in firms can be a critical condition for reducing credit risk by cross-holdings of stock using Monte Carlo simulation . Moreover , we show we can calculate the default spread easily when complicated cross-holdings exist , and find which shares are beneficial or disadvantageous

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

securities
option
corporate business asset value
payoff functions
bond holder
credit risks
correlation
monte carlo simulation

risky corporate debt valuation
stock holdings
debt holdings
multiple cross-holdings
modigliani-miller theorem
cross-shareholdings


Two quantum analogues of Fisher information from a large deviation viewpoint of quantum estimation We discuss two quantum analogues of the Fisher information , the symmetric logarithmic derivative Fisher information and Kubo-Mori-Bogoljubov Fisher information from a large deviation viewpoint of quantum estimation and prove that the former gives the true bound and the latter gives the bound of consistent superefficient estimators . As another comparison , it is shown that the difference between them is characterized by the change of the order of limits

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

symmetric logarithmic derivative fisher information

kubo-mori-bogoljubov fisher information
statistical inference


Towards strong stability of concurrent repetitive processes sharing resources The paper presents a method for design of stability conditions of concurrent , repetitive processes sharing common resources . Steady-state behaviour of the system with m cyclic processes utilising a resource with the mutual exclusion is considered . Based on a recurrent equations framework necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of maximal performance steady-state are presented . It was shown that if the conditions hold then the m-process system is marginally stable , i.e. , a steady-state of the system depends on the perturbations . The problem of finding the relative positions of the processes leading to waiting-free -LRB- maximal efficiency -RRB- steady-states of the system is formulated as a constraint logic programming problem . An example illustrating the solving of the problem for a 3-process system using object-oriented , constraint logic programming language Oz is presented . A condition sufficient for strong stability of the m-process system is given . When the condition holds then for any initial phases of the processes a waiting-free steady-state will be reached

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

strong stability
concurrent repetitive processes
common resources
cyclic processes
mutual exclusion
recurrent equations framework
necessary and sufficient conditions
constraint logic programming

steady-state behaviour
maximal performance steady-state
waiting-free steady-states
3-process system
oz language


Storage functionals and Lyapunov functions for passive dynamical systems For nonlinear time-invariant input-output dynamical systems the passivity conditions are obtained under some restrictions . The conditions imply storage functions satisfying a dissipation inequality . A class of storage functions allowing unique reconstruction of a passive dynamical system is defined . These results are illustrated by an example of a linear system with fading memory . An important , for practical application , class of the linear relaxation systems without direct input-output interaction is considered . A necessary condition for dynamical systems to be of the relaxation type is obtained for this class . The condition is connected with the existence of a unique quadratic Lyapunov function satisfying the complete monotonicity condition . This unique Lyapunov function corresponds to a `` standard '' thermodynamic potential in a compact family of potentials in the nonequilibrium thermodynamics . The results obtained can be useful in automatic control , mechanics of viscoelastic materials , and various applications in physics and the system theory

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

storage functionals
passive dynamical systems
passivity conditions
dissipation inequality
linear system
fading memory
necessary condition
unique quadratic lyapunov function
complete monotonicity condition
thermodynamic potential
nonequilibrium thermodynamics
automatic control
mechanics
viscoelastic materials


Virtual Development Center The Virtual Development Center of the Institute for Women and Technology seeks to significantly enhance the impact of women on technology . It addresses this goal by increasing the number of women who have input on created technology , enhancing the ways people teach and develop technology , and developing need-based technology that serves the community . Through activities of the Virtual Development Center , a pattern is emerging regarding how computing technologies do or do not satisfy the needs of community groups , particularly those communities serving women . This paper describes the Virtual Development Center program and offers observations on the impact of computing technology on non-technical communities

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

virtual development center
women
community groups

information technology
teaching
gender issues
computer science education


On M/D/1 queue with deterministic server vacations We study a single server vacation queue with Poisson arrivals , deterministic service of constant duration b -LRB- > 0 -RRB- and deterministic vacations of constant duration d -LRB- > 0 -RRB- and designate this model as M/D/D / 1 . After completion of each service , the server may take a vacation with probability p or may continue working in the system with probability 1 - p . We obtain time-dependent as well as steady state probability generation functions for the number in the system . For the steady state we obtain explicitly the mean number and the mean waiting time for the system and for the queue . All known results of the M/D/1 queue are derived as a special case . Finally , a numerical illustration is discussed

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

time-dependent probability generation functions


Recruiting and retaining women in undergraduate computing majors This paper recommends methods for increasing female participation in undergraduate computer science . The recommendations are based on recent and on-going research into the gender gap in computer science and related disciplines . They are intended to work in tandem with the Computing Research Association 's recommendations for graduate programs to promote a general increase in women 's participation in computing professions . Most of the suggestions offered could improve the educational environment for both male and female students . However , general improvements are likely to be of particular benefit to women because women in our society do not generally receive the same level of support that men receive for entering and persisting in this field

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

undergraduate computing majors
female participation
gender gap
computer science


Dementing disorders : volumetric measurement of cerebrospinal fluid to distinguish normal from pathologic finding - feasibility study We have demonstrated that automated methods to describe the severity and distribution of cerebral atrophy are capable of providing diagnostic information in the classification of neurodegenerative diseases

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 B I O O O O O O

dementing disorders
diagnostic information
automated methods

cerebrospinal fluid volumetric measurement


Building an effective computer science student organization : the Carnegie Mellon Women@SCS action plan This paper aims to provide a practical guide for building a student organization and designing activities and events that can encourage and support a community of women in computer science . This guide is based on our experience in building Women@SCS, a community of women in the School of Computer Science -LRB- SCS -RRB- at Carnegie Mellon University . Rather than provide an abstract `` to-do '' or `` must-do '' list , we present a sampling of concrete activities and events in the hope that these might suggest possibilities for a likeminded student organization . However , since we have found it essential to have a core group of activist students at the helm , we provide a `` to-do '' list of features that we feel are essential for forming , supporting and sustaining creative and effective student leadership

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 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 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

computer science student organization
women
carnegie mellon university
student leadership

women@scs action plan
gender issues
computer science education


What do you say ? Open letters to women considering a computer science major In the last decade we have both monitored with great interest the ratio of female to male computer science majors at our respective institutions . With each entering class , we think : `` Surely , now is the time when the numbers will become more balanced . '' Logic tells us that this must eventually happen , because the opportunities in computing are simply too attractive for an entire segment of our population to routinely pass up . But each year we are again disappointed in the number of women students , as they continue to be woefully under-represented among computer science majors . So , what do you say to a young woman who is considering a college choice and a choice of major in order to make computer science a more attractive option ? We have organized some thoughts on that subject into open letters

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

women
female
male
computer science majors

computer science education
gender issues


A fractional-flow model of serial manufacturing systems with rework and its reachability and controllability properties A dynamic fractional-flow model of a serial manufacturing system incorporating rework is considered . Using some results on reachability and controllability of positive linear systems the ability of serial manufacturing systems with rework to `` move in space '' , that is their reachability and controllability properties , are studied . These properties are important not only for optimising the performance of the manufacturing system , possibly off-line , but also to improve its functioning by using feedback control online

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

serial manufacturing systems
rework
reachability
controllability
positive linear systems
feedback control

dynamic fractional-flow model
performance optimisation


The curious ways of professional cultures and the `` two-body opportunity '' When two professionals are a couple , we sometimes refer to them as having a `` two-body problem . '' However , when each partner of a couple exists in the same cultures , they also have an opportunity for deeply shared understanding and empathy , simply because each understands at a deep level the culture in which the other works . I explore this notion . A couple has what we call the `` two-body problem '' when both are professionals who are qualified for a kind of position that is relatively rare and who are very selective about the positions that they accept . For example , there are relatively scant numbers of jobs as a computer science professor-at any level . An individual considering an academic job may only be interested in research universities , or in teaching universities , restricting the choice of open positions substantially . The classic two-body `` problem '' arises when one partner wants to accept a new position that requires geographical relocation . Then , the other partner also needs to find a new position . Moreover , it can be very difficult to find a suitable position when they are naturally scarce

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 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


Mathematical model of functioning of an insurance company with allowance for advertising expenses A mathematical model of the functioning of an insurance company with allowance for advertising expenses is suggested . The basic characteristics of the capital of the company and the advertising efficiency are examined in the case in which the advertising expenses are proportional to the capital

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 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

insurance company functioning
advertising expenses allowance


Women of color in computing It is well known that there is a need to increase the number of women in the area of computing , that is in computer science and computer engineering . If we consider women of color , that is women of under-represented ethnicities , we find the numbers are very dismal . The goal of this article is to bring to light the unique issues of women of color based upon the personal experience of one African-American woman who has been in the field of computing for over 20 years -LRB- including the years of higher education -RRB-

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 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 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

women of color
computer science
computer engineering
higher education


A hybrid-neural network and population learning algorithm approach to solving reliability optimization problem Proposes a hybrid approach integrating a dedicated artificial neural network and population learning algorithm applied to maximising system reliability under cost and technical feasibility constraints . The paper includes a formulation of the system reliability optimisation -LRB- SRO -RRB- problem and a description of the dedicated neural network trained by applying the population learning algorithm . A solution to the example SRO problem is shown and results of the computational experiment are presented and discussed

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

hybrid approach
dedicated artificial neural network
population learning algorithm
system reliability
technical feasibility constraints
reliability optimization problem


Synthesis of the control systems via reflection onto auxiliary surfaces An approach to robust control systems synthesis , both linear and nonlinear , and nonstationary is offered . The control is carried out , providing the given phase constraints varied in acceptable limits , in view of constraints on its value and incompleteness of the information about functioning disturbances . The approach is based on the introduction of auxiliary integral surfaces , on which the initial moving is projected . As a result the reduced equivalent moving is formed , being described by the scalar equation which in many important cases can be integrated directly . On the basis of the equation obtained solving a synthesis task is carried out and can be reduced to algebraic or integral inequalities . The final relations defined for linear equivalent moving are presented

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 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 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 I O O

control systems synthesis
auxiliary surfaces
integral inequalities
linear equivalent moving

robust control systems
linear systems
nonlinear systems
algebraic inequalities


Computing 2002 : democracy , education , and the future Computer scientists , computer engineers , information technologists , and their collective products have grown and changed in quantity , quality , and nature . In the first decade of this new century , it should become apparent to everyone that the computing and information fields , broadly defined , will have a profound impact on every element of every person 's life . The author considers how women and girls of the world have been neither educated for computing nor served by computing . Globally , women 's participation in computer science grew for a while , then dropped precipitously . Computing , science , engineering , and society will suffer if this decline continues , because women have different perspectives on technology , what it is important for , how it should be built , which projects should be funded , and so on . To create a positive future , to assure that women equally influence the future , computing education must change

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


Estimation of the Poisson stream intensity in a multilinear queue with an exponential job queue decay Times the busy queue periods start are found for a multilinear queue with an exponential job queue decay and uniform resource allocation to individual servers . The stream intensity and the average job are estimated from observations of the times the queue busy periods start

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

poisson stream intensity
multilinear queue
exponential job queue decay
busy queue periods start
uniform resource allocation
stream intensity
individual servers


Programmatic efforts encouraging women to enter the information technology workforce For over a decade the National Science Foundation -LRB- NSF -RRB- has been supporting projects designed to improve opportunities for women in computing . From an initial emphasis on increasing the number of women in graduate school studying computer science and engineering , NSF 's current emphasis has broadened to include research studies examining the underlying reasons why women are underrepresented in the information technology -LRB- IT -RRB- workforce . This paper describes the recent history of NSF 's activities in this area and the subsequent emergence of a research portfolio addressing the underrepresentation issue

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

national science foundation
women
computing
graduate school
engineering
history


Speaker identification from voice using neural networks The paper provides three different schemes for speaker identification of personnel from their voice using artificial neural networks . The first scheme recognizes speakers by employing the classical backpropagation algorithm pre-trained with known voice samples of the persons . The second scheme provides a framework for classifying the known training samples of the voice features using a hierarchical architecture realized with a self-organizing feature map neural net . The first scheme is highly robust as it is capable of identifying the personnel from their noisy voice samples , but because of its excessive training time it has limited applications for a large voice database . The second scheme though not so robust as the former , however , can classify an unknown voice sample to its nearest class . The time needed for classification by the first scheme is always unique irrespective of the voice sample . It is proportional to the number of feedforward layers in the network . The time-requirement of the second classification scheme , however , is not free from the voice features and is proportional to the number of 2D arrays traversed by the algorithm on the hierarchical structure . The third scheme is highly robust and mis-classification is as low as 0.2 per cent . The third scheme combines the composite benefits of a radial basis function neural net and backpropagation trained neural net

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

speaker identification
artificial neural networks
personnel
hierarchical architecture
backpropagation algorithm
classification
feedforward layers
2d arrays
radial basis function neural net
known voice samples

self-organizing feature map
pre-training


LAN-based building maintenance and surveillance robot The building and construction industry is the major industry of Hong Kong as in many developed countries around the world . After the commissioning of a high-rise building or a large estate , substantial manpower , both inside the management centre under a standby manner , as well as surveillance for security purposes around the whole building , is required for daily operation to ensure a quality environment for the occupants . If the surveillance job can be done by robots , the efficiency can be highly enhanced , resulting in a great saving of manpower and the improved safety of the management staff as a by-product . Furthermore , if the robot can retrieve commands from the building management system via a local area network -LRB- LAN -RRB- , further savings in manpower can be achieved in terms of first-line fault attendance by human management staff . This paper describes the development of a robot prototype here in Hong Kong , which can handle some daily routine maintenance works and surveillance responsibilities . The hardware structure of the robot and its on-board devices are described . Real-time images captured by a camera on the robot with pan/tilt/zoom functions can be transmitted back to the central management office via a local area network . The interface between the robot and the building automation system -LRB- BAS -RRB- of the building is discussed . This is the first key achievement of this project with a strong implication on reducing the number of human staff to manage a modem building . Teleoperation of the robot via the Internet or intranet is also possible , which is the second achievement of this project . Finally , the robot can identify its physical position inside the building by a landmark recognition method based on standard CAD drawings , which is the third achievement of this project . The main goal of this paper is not the description of some groundbreaking technology in robotic development . It is mainly intended to convince building designers and managers to incorporate robotic systems when they are managing modem buildings to save manpower and improve efficiency

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

security purposes
building management system
local area network
hardware structure
teleoperation
landmark recognition method

lan-based building maintenance and surveillance robot


Is diversity in computing a moral matter ? We have presented an ethical argument that takes into consideration the subtleties of the issue surrounding under-representation in computing . We should emphasize that there is nothing subtle about overt , unfair discrimination . Where such injustice occurs , we condemn it . Our concern is that discrimination need not be explicit or overt . It need not be individual-to-individual . Rather , it can be subtly built into social practices and social institutions . Our analysis raises ethical questions about aspects of computing that drive women away , aspects that can be changed in ways that improve the profession and access to the profession . We hope that computing will move towards these improvements

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 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 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

ethical argument
unfair discrimination
social practices
social institutions
women


Perspectives on academic vs. industry environments for women in computer science The authors were tenure track faculty members at the Colorado School of Mines and later moved into senior positions at software companies . Both are part of two-career couples as well , and both have two children . In this article , they discuss their impressions and share anecdotes regarding the differing experiences of women and families in these two environments

O O O O O O O B O B I 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 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

women
computer science
faculty members
software companies
children

industry environment
academic environments
career
gender gap


Positional control of pneumatic manipulators for construction tasks This paper describes solutions that can be applied to pneumatic manipulator problems in positioning , both for angle trajectories and for long linear trajectories , used in construction tasks . Optimal positioning of a pneumatic manipulator along angle trajectories with minimum control energy consumption is given . The implementation of the control system is presented . Control algorithms for a long linear trajectory manipulator based on two-phase and three-phase motion modes of the end-effector are investigated . Conventional and fuzzy logic controls of a pneumatic manipulator were applied and experimental testing was carried out . The obtained results allow widening the application range of pneumatic manipulators in construction , particularly in gantry type machines

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

pneumatic manipulators
construction tasks
positioning
positional control
angle trajectories
long linear trajectory manipulator
fuzzy logic controls
gantry type machines

two-phase motion modes
three-phase motion modes


Developing a hardware and programming curriculum for middle school girls Techbridge provides experiences and resources that would teach girls technology skills as well as excite their curiosity and build their confidence . Funded by the National Science Foundation and sponsored by Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland , California , Techbridge is a three-year program that serves approximately 200 girls annually . Techbridge is hosted at 8 middle and high schools in Oakland and at the California School for the Blind in Fremont , California generally as an after-school program meeting once a week . Techbridge comes at a critical time in girls ' development when girls have many important decisions to make regarding classes and careers , but often lack the confidence and guidance to make the best choices . Techbridge helps girls plan for the next steps to high school and college with its role models and guidance . Techbridge also provides training and resources for teachers , counselors , and families

O O B I I I O B I I 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 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 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 B 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

middle school girls
hardware and programming curriculum
techbridge


Assignment of periods and priorities of messages and tasks in distributed control systems Presents a task and message-based scheduling method to guarantee the given end-to-end constraints including precedence constraints , time constraints , and period and priority of task and message . The method is an integrated one considering both tasks executed in each node and messages transmitted via the network and is designed to apply to a general distributed control system that has multiple loops and a single loop has sensor nodes with multiple sensors , actuator nodes with multiple actuators , controller nodes with multiple tasks , and several types of constraints . The assigning method of the optimal period and priority of task and message is proposed , using the presented task and message-based scheduling method

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 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 O O

distributed control systems
precedence constraints
time constraints

periods assignment
priorities assignment
message-based scheduling method
task-based scheduling method
end-to-end constraints


Laser-based internal profile measurement system An automatic laser-based system to measure the internal profiles of various structures has been developed . The system uses a point laser source through a rotating optical device fixed on to a laser measurement meter . A notebook computer with custom software is used to control the laser meter and rotating device to estimate the scanned profile shape and to determine the resulting cross-section area . The information provided by this system is essential to construction industry , including window and door builders ; the glass , panel , board , and floor tile manufacturers ; carpet venders ; and building contractors for cost estimation and production control . As a result , the lead time for delivering the customized windowpanes , woodwork , floor tiles , and ceilings can be reduced . Applications of this system for measuring the shapes of window frames and floor plans are described and demonstrated . The measurement accuracy is evaluated and analyzed . Results have indicated that the measurement accuracy can be achieved within 4 % of the measurement distance , for typical window designs and floor patterns required by major window manufacturers . Recommendations to improve the system are also included

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 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 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 O O B I O B I O B 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 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

internal profiles
point laser source
rotating optical device
laser meter
rotating device
floor tile manufacturers
carpet venders
building contractors
cost estimation
production control
customized windowpanes
window frames

laser-based internal profile measurement system


Use of natural language processing to translate clinical information from a database of 889,921 chest radiographic reports The aim was to evaluate translation of chest radiographic reports using natural language processing and to compare the findings with those in the literature . A natural language processor coded 10 years of narrative chest radiographic reports from an urban academic medical center . Coding for 150 reports was compared with manual coding . Frequencies and cooccurrences of 24 clinical conditions -LRB- diseases , abnormalities , and clinical states -RRB- were estimated . The ratio of right to left lung mass , association of pleural effusion with other conditions , and frequency of bullet and stab wounds were compared with independent observations . The sensitivity and specificity of the system 's pneumothorax coding were compared with those of manual financial coding . Internal and external validation in this study confirmed the accuracy of natural language processing for translating chest radiographic narrative reports into a large database of information

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 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 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 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 B I 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

natural language processing
urban academic medical center
pleural effusion
stab wounds
pneumothorax coding

chest radiographic report database
clinical information translation
clinical condition frequency
clinical condition cooccurrence
right to left lung mass ratio
bullet wounds


A framework for rapid local area modeling for construction automation Rapid 3D positioning and modeling in construction can be used to more effectively plan , visualize , and communicate operations before execution . It can also help to optimize equipment operations , significantly improve safety , and enhance a remote operator 's spatial perception of the workspace . A new framework for rapid local area sensing and 3D modeling for better planning and control of construction equipment operation is described and demonstrated . By combining human-assisted graphical workspace modeling with pre-stored Computer-Aided Design -LRB- CAD -RRB- models and simple sensors -LRB- such as single-axis laser rangefinders and remote video cameras -RRB- , modeling time can be significantly reduced while potentially increasing modeling accuracy

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

rapid local area modeling
construction automation
rapid 3d positioning
equipment operations
spatial perception
rapid local area sensing
3d modeling
remote video cameras


On conflict-free executions of elementary nets Deals with analysis of elementary Petri nets with respect to possibilities of avoiding conflicts during their executions . There are two main aims of the paper . The first is to find a method of checking if a net is conflict-avoidable -LRB- i.e. , if it possesses a conflict-free fair run -RRB- . The second is to find a method of rebuilding any net to a totally conflict-avoidable net -LRB- i.e. , a net possessing a conflict-free fair run in every one process -RRB- with the same behaviour . The main results are the following : 1 . The proof of decidability , for elementary nets , of the problem of existence of a conflict-avoidable fair process -LRB- and an algorithm producing all fair runs -RRB- . 2 . Construction , for an arbitrary given elementary net , of a totally conflict-avoidable net with the same behaviour . The net , completed this way , has the same behaviour as the original one . Moreover , it is totally conflict-avoidable , and its execution may be supervised -LRB- in order to ensure conflict-freeness -RRB- by the reduced case graph built by the algorithm of the former section

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 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 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

elementary petri nets
decidability
reduced case graph

conflict-free executions
conflict-free fair run
totally conflict-avoidable net


An exactly solvable random satisfiability problem We introduce a new model for the generation of random satisfiability problems . It is an extension of the hyper-SAT model of Ricci-Tersenghi , Weigt and Zecchina -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , which is a variant of the famous K-SAT model : it is extended to q-state variables and relates to a different choice of the statistical ensemble . The model has an exactly solvable statistic : the critical exponents and scaling functions of the SAT/UNSAT transition are calculable at zero temperature , with no need of replicas , also with exact finite-size corrections . We also introduce an exact duality of the model , and show an analogy of thermodynamic properties with the random energy model of disordered spin system theory . Relations with error correcting codes are also discussed

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

hyper-sat model
q-state variables
exact finite-size corrections


Calculation of the probability of survival of an insurance company with allowance for the rate of return for a Poisson stream of premiums The probability of survival of an insurance company with the working capital is calculated for a Poisson stream of premiums

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

survival probability
return rate
poisson premium stream
probability density function


Mathematical models of functioning of an insurance company with allowance for the rate of return Models of the functioning of insurance companies are suggested , when the free capital increases from interest at a certain rate . The basic characteristics of the capital of a company are studied in the stationary regime

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

mathematical models
interest
stationary regime

insurance company functioning
return rate allowance
free capital increase


Adjoint-based optimization of steady suction for disturbance control in incompressible flows The optimal distribution of steady suction needed to control the growth of single or multiple disturbances in quasi-three-dimensional incompressible boundary layers on a flat plate is investigated . The evolution of disturbances is analysed in the framework of the parabolized stability equations -LRB- PSE -RRB- . A gradient-based optimization procedure is used and the gradients are evaluated using the adjoint of the parabolized stability equations -LRB- APSE -RRB- and the adjoint of the boundary layer equations -LRB- ABLE -RRB- . The accuracy of the gradient is increased by introducing a stabilization procedure for the PSE . Results show that a suction peak appears in the upstream part of the suction region for optimal control of Tollmien-Schlichting -LRB- T-S -RRB- waves , steady streamwise streaks in a two-dimensional boundary layer and oblique waves in a quasi-three-dimensional boundary layer subject to an adverse pressure gradient . The mean flow modifications due to suction are shown to have a stabilizing effect similar to that of a favourable pressure gradient . It is also shown that the optimal suction distribution for the disturbance of interest reduces the growth rate of other perturbations . Results for control of a steady cross-flow mode in a three-dimensional boundary layer subject to a favourable pressure gradient show that not even large amounts of suction can completely stabilize the disturbance

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

steady suction
disturbance control
incompressible flows
flat plate
parabolized stability equations
stabilization procedure
steady streamwise streaks
oblique waves
adverse pressure gradient
mean flow

quasithree-dimensional incompressible boundary layers


A conference 's impact on undergraduate female students In September of 2000 , the 3rd Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing was held in Cape Cod , Massachusetts . Along with a colleague from a nearby university , we accompanied seven of our female undergraduate students to this conference . This paper reports on how the conference experience immediately affected these students - what impressed them , what scared them , what it clarified for them . It also reports on how the context in which these students currently evaluate their ability , potential and opportunity in computer science is different now from what it was before the conference . Hopefully , by understanding their experience , we can gain some insight into things we can do for all of our undergraduate female students to better support their computer science and engineering education

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

undergraduate female students
engineering education
conference

computer science education
gender issues


Unlocking the clubhouse : the Carnegie Mellon experience In the fall of 1995 , just seven of 95 students entering the undergraduate program in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University were women . In 2000 , 54 of 130 , or 42 % , were women . What happened ? This article presents a brief history of the transformation at Carnegie Mellon 's School of Computer Science , and the research project that lay behind it

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

students
undergraduate program
carnegie mellon university
women
history
research project


Planning linear construction projects : automated method for the generation of earthwork activities Earthworks planning for road construction projects is a complex operation and the planning rules used are usually intuitive and not well defined . An approach to automate the earthworks planning process is described and the basic techniques that are used are outlined . A computer-based system has been developed , initially to help planners use existing techniques more efficiently . With their input , the system has been extended to incorporate a knowledge base and a simulation of the earthworks processes . As well as creating activity sets in a much shorter time , the system has shown that for a real project , the model is able to generate activity sets that are comparable to those generated by a project planner

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

linear construction projects
earthwork activities
road construction projects
planning rules
earthworks planning process
knowledge base


Shortchanging the future of information technology : the untapped resource Building on ideas from a virtual workshop and additional input from the scientific community , the CISE Directorate at the National Science Foundation established the Information Technology Workforce Program -LRB- ITWF -RRB- in March 2000 to support a broad set of scientific research studies focused on the under-representation of women and minorities in the information technology workforce . In this paper , we explore various approaches that the funded researchers are taking to address the problem of women in information technology . We begin with a brief history of the ITWF , and then focus on some of the research projects in terms of their goals , approaches , and expected outcomes

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

information technology workforce program

information technology future
untapped resources
women under-representation


Support communities for women in computing This article highlights the many activities provided by the support communities available for women in computing . Thousands of women actively participate in these programs and they receive many benefits including networking and professional support . In addition , the organizations and associations help promote the accomplishments of women computer scientists and disseminate valuable information . This article surveys some of these organizations and concludes with a list of suggestions for how faculty members can incorporate the benefits of these organizations in their own institutions

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

support communities
women
computing
networking
professional support
faculty members


Improved detection of lung nodules by using a temporal subtraction technique The authors evaluated the effect of a temporal subtraction technique for digital chest radiography with regard to the accuracy of detection of lung nodules . Twenty solitary lung nodules smaller than 30 mm in diameter , including 10 lung cancers and 10 benign nodules , were used . The nodules were grouped subjectively according to their subtlety . For nonnodular cases , 20 nodules without perceptible interval changes were selected . All chest radiographs were obtained by using a computed radiographic system , and temporal subtraction images were produced by using a program developed at the University of Chicago . The effect of the temporal subtraction image was evaluated by using an observer performance study , with use of receiver operating characteristic analysis . Observer performance with temporal subtraction images was substantially improved -LRB- A/sub z / = 0.980 and 0.958 -RRB- , as compared with that without temporal subtraction images -LRB- A/sub z / = 0.920 and 0.825 -RRB- for the certified radiologists and radiology residents , respectively . The temporal subtraction technique clearly improved diagnostic accuracy for detecting lung nodules , especially subtle cases . In conclusion , the temporal subtraction technique is useful for improving detection accuracy for peripheral lung nodules on digital chest radiographs

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

temporal subtraction technique
digital chest radiography
perceptible interval changes
observer performance
peripheral lung nodules
radiology residents
certified radiologists
subtle cases
university of chicago
computed radiographic system
30 mm

improved lung nodules detection
medical diagnostic imaging


Tracking control of the flexible slider-crank mechanism system under impact The variable structure control -LRB- VSC -RRB- and the stabilizer design by using the pole placement technique are applied to the tracking control of the flexible slider-crank mechanism under impact . The VSC strategy is employed to track the crank angular position and speed , while the stabilizer design is involved to suppress the flexible vibrations simultaneously . From the theoretical impact consideration , three approaches including the generalized momentum balance -LRB- GMB -RRB- , the continuous force model -LRB- CFM -RRB- , and the CFM associated with the effective mass compensation EMC are adopted , and are derived on the basis of the energy and impulse-momentum conservations . Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the motor-controller flexible slider-crank mechanism not only accomplishing good tracking trajectory of the crank angle , but also eliminating vibrations of the flexible connecting rod

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

tracking control
impact
variable structure control
stabilizer design
crank angular position
flexible vibrations
generalized momentum balance
continuous force model
effective mass compensation
tracking trajectory
flexible connecting rod
pole placement technique

flexible slider-crank mechanism system
conservation laws
multibody dynamics


Algorithms for improving the quality of R-trees A novel approach to operation with a structure for spatial indexing of extended objects shaped as R-trees is considered . It consists of the initial global construction of an efficient R-tree structure and the subsequent operation with it using conventional dynamic algorithms . A global strategy for constructing an R-tree reduced to a problem of dividing a set of rectangular objects into K parts with minimum mutual overlay is suggested . Base , box , and `` Divide and Conquer '' algorithms are suggested . The results of experimental modeling of the execution of various algorithms are discussed

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

spatial indexing
extended objects
dynamic algorithms
rectangular objects
minimum mutual overlay

r-trees
graphical search
computational geometry


Priming the pipeline -LSB- women in computer science careers -RSB- In 1997 The Backyard Project , a pilot program of the Garnett Foundation , was instituted to encourage high school girls to explore careers in the computer industry . At that time , the Garnett Foundation commissioned the Global Strategy Group to execute a survey of 652 college-bound high school students -LRB- grades 9 through 12 -RRB- , to help discover directions that The Backyard Project might take to try to move toward the mission of the pilot program . It conducted the study by telephone between March 25 and April 8 , 1997 in the Silicon Valley , Boston , and Austin metropolitan areas . It conducted all interviews using a random digit dialing methodology , derived from a file of American households with high incidences of adolescent children . The top six answers from girls to the survey question `` why are girls less likely to pursue computer science careers ? '' in order of perceived importance by the girls were : not enough role models ; women have other interests ; did n't know about the industry ; limited opportunity ; negative media ; and too nerdy . These responses are discussed

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

computer industry careers
college-bound high school students


Establishing the discipline of physics-based CMP modeling For the past decade , a physically based comprehensive process model for chemical mechanical polishing has eluded the semiconductor industry . However , a long-term collaborative effort has now resulted in a workable version of that approach . The highly fundamental model is based on advanced finite element analysis and is beginning to show promise in CMP process development

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

chemical mechanical polishing
cmp
finite element analysis

physically based process model
cmp process development


Two efficient algorithms for the generalized maximum balanced flow problem Minoux -LRB- 1976 -RRB- considered the maximum balanced flow problem , i.e. the problem of finding a maximum flow in a two-terminal network N = -LRB- V , A -RRB- with source s and sink t satisfying the constraint that any arc-flow of N is bounded by a fixed proportion of the total flow value from s to t , where V is vertex set and A is arc set . As a generalization , we focus on the problem of maximizing the total flow value of a generalized flow in N with gains gamma -LRB- a -RRB- > 0 -LRB- a in A -RRB- where any arc-flow is bounded by a fixed proportion of the total flow value , where gamma -LRB- a -RRB- f -LRB- a -RRB- units arrive at the vertex w for each arc-flow f -LRB- a -RRB- -LRB- a identical to -LRB- upsilon , w -RRB- in A -RRB- entering vertex upsilon in a generalized flow . Our main results are to propose two polynomial algorithms for this problem . The first algorithm runs in O -LRB- mM -LRB- n , m , B ' -RRB- log B -RRB- time , where B is the maximum absolute value among integral values used by an instance of the problem , and M -LRB- n , m , B ' -RRB- denotes the complexity of solving a generalized maximum flow problem in a network with n vertices , and m arcs , and a rational instance expressed with integers between 1 and B ' . In the second algorithm , using a parameterized technique , runs in O -LRB- -LCB- M -LRB- n , m , B ' -RRB- -RCB- / sup 2 / -RRB- time

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


Optimization of advertising expenses in the functioning of an insurance company With the use of Pontryagin 's maximum principle , a problem of optimal time distribution of advertising expenses in the functioning of an insurance company is solved

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

optimization
advertising expenses
insurance company
optimal time distribution

pontryagin maximum principle
differential equations


Girls , boys , and computers Today North American girls , boys , teachers , and parents frequently regard computer science and programming as something boys are better at . The author considers how many of the factors that contribute to the low participation of women in computing occur first , and perhaps most forcefully , in childhood . She presents four recommendations to address the situation

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

girls
teachers
computer science
programming
women
childhood
boys


A scanline-based algorithm for the 2D free-form bin packing problem This paper describes a heuristic algorithm for the 2D free-form bin packing -LRB- 2D-FBP -RRB- problem . Given a set of 2D free-form bins and a set of 2D free-form items , the 2D-FBP problem is to lay out items inside one or more bins in such a way that the number of bins used is minimized , and for each bin , the yield is maximized . The proposed algorithm handles the problem as a variant of the 1D problem ; i.e. , items and bins are approximated as sets of scanlines , and scanlines are packed . The details of the algorithm are given , and its application to a nesting problem in a shipbuilding company is reported . The proposed algorithm consists of the basic and the group placement algorithms . The basic placement algorithm is a variant of the first-fit decreasing algorithm which is simply extended from the 1D case to the 2D case by a novel scanline approximation . A numerical study with real instances shows that the basic placement algorithm has sufficient performance for most of the instances , however , the group placement algorithm is required when items must be aligned in columns . The qualities of the resulting layouts are good enough for practical use , and the processing times are good

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 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 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

heuristic algorithm
nesting problem
shipbuilding company
group placement algorithm

scanline-based algorithm
2d free-form bin packing problem
2d-fbp problem
irregular cutting
irregular packing
minimization
yield maximization
first-fit decreasing algorithm


The decision procedure for profitability of investment projects using the internal rate of return of single-period projects The internal rate of return -LRB- IRR -RRB- criterion is often used to evaluate profitability of investment projects . In this paper , we focus on a single-period project which consists of two types of cash flows ; an investment at one period and a return at a succeeding period , and a financing at one period and a repayment at a succeeding period . We decompose the given investment project into a series of the single-period projects . From the viewpoint of the single-period project , we point out the applicability issue of the IRR criterion , namely the IRR criterion can not be applied in which a project is composed of both investment type and financing type . Investigating the properties of a series of the single-period projects , we resolve the applicability issue of the IRR criterion and propose the decision procedure for profitability judgment toward any type of investment project based on the comparison between the IRR and the capital cost . We develop a new algorithm to obtain the value of the project investment rate -LRB- PIR -RRB- for the given project , which is a function of the capital cost , only using the standard IRR computing routine . This outcome is a theoretical breakthrough to widen the utilization of IRR in practical applications

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

decision procedure
internal rate of return
profitability
cash flows
irr criterion
project investment rate
pir

investment project profitability
single-period projects
investment project decomposition


Setup cost and lead time reductions on stochastic inventory models with a service level constraint The stochastic inventory models analyzed in this paper explore the problem of lead time associated with setup cost reductions for the continuous review and periodic review inventory models . For these two models with a mixture of backorders and lost sales , we respectively assume that their mean and variance of the lead time demand and protection interval -LRB- i.e. , lead time plus review period -RRB- demand are known , but their probability distributions are unknown . We develop a minimax distribution free procedure to find the optimal solution-for each case

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

setup cost reductions
lead time reductions
stochastic inventory models
service level constraint
periodic review inventory models
backorders
lost sales
lead time demand
protection interval
probability distributions
minimax distribution free procedure


Well behaved women rarely make history ! The author considers women in the history of computer science . Prior to the ENIAC , women were extremely important to the computing business as `` computers '' . Just as women had taken over the tasks as secretaries in the late 1800s with the advent of the typewriter , and in the early 1900s staffing telephone exchanges , so computing relied on women as the `` workhorses '' of the business

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

women
history
computer science
eniac
business


People who make a difference : mentors and role models The literature of gender issues in computing steadfastly and uniformly has advocated the use of mentors and role models -LRB- M&RM -RRB- for recruiting and retaining women in computer science . This paper , therefore , accepts the results of research studies and avoids reiterating details of the projects but offers instead a practical guide for using M&RM to recruit and retain women in computer science . The guide provides pragmatic advice , describing several different facets of the M&RM concept

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

mentors
role models
gender issues
computing
computer science


Leveraging an alternative source of computer scientists : reentry programs Much has been written about the leaky pipeline of women in computer science -LRB- CS -RRB- , with the percentage of women decreasing as one moves from lower levels , such as college , to higher levels , culminating in full professorship . While significant attention focused on keeping women from leaving the pipeline , there is also an opportunity to bring women into the pipeline through non-traditional programs , instead of requiring that everyone enter at the undergraduate level . Both Mills College , a small liberal arts institution for women , and UC Berkeley , a large research university , established programs in the 80 's to increase the number of women in computer science by tapping non-traditional students . Both programs share the core value of accommodating older students lacking technical backgrounds . The two programs have produced similar results : graduate degrees earned in computer science by students who would not have qualified without these programs , professional employment in the computer science field by women and minorities , and a recognition that this population represents a rich source of talent for our nation

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

reentry programs
computer science
women
mills college
uc berkeley
graduate degrees
students
professional employment
minorities


Three-dimensional periodic Voronoi grain models and micromechanical FE-simulations of a two-phase steel A three-dimensional model is proposed for modeling of microstructures . The model is based on the finite element method with periodic boundary conditions . The Voronoi algorithm is used to generate the geometrical model , which has a periodic grain structure that follows the original boundaries of the Voronoi cells . As an application , the model is used to model a two-phase ferrite/pearlite steel . It is shown that periodic cells with only five grains generate representative stress-strain curves

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

periodic voronoi grain models
periodic boundary conditions
voronoi algorithm
geometrical model

two-phase steel
three-dimensional model
micromechanical fem simulations
microstructures modeling
ferrite-pearlite steel
stress-strain curves
voronoi tessellation
adaptive mesh generator
quadtree/octree-based algorithm
kinematic constraints
computational time