The development of any Software (Industrial) Intensive System, e.g. critical embedded software, requires both different notations, and a strong devel- ment process. Different notations are mandatory because different aspects of the Software System have to be tackled. A strong development process is mandatory as well because without a strong organization we cannot warrantee the system will meet its requirements. Unfortunately, much more is needed! The different notations that can be used must all possess at least one property: formality. The development process must also have important properties: a exha- tive coverage of the development phases, and a set of well integrated support tools. In Computer Science it is now widely accepted that only formal notations can guarantee a perfect de?ned meaning. This becomes a more and more important issue since software systems tend to be distributed in large systems (for instance in safe public transportation systems), and in small ones (for instance numerous processors in luxury cars). Distribution increases the complexity of embedded software while safety criteria get harder to be met. On the other hand, during the past decade Software Engineering techniques have been improved a lot, and are now currently used to conduct systematic and rigorous development of large software systems. UML has become the de facto standard notation for documenting Software Engineering projects. UML is supported by many CASE tools that offer graphical means for the UML notation.

In today's society, the quantity of information available to learners is so vast that new strategies of information processing and exchange must be continually developed and improved. E-Collaborative Knowledge Construction: Learning from Computer-Supported and Virtual Environments explores the construction of beneficial e-collaborative knowledge environments from four vital perspectives: educational, psychological, organizational, and technical. It offers several scenarios where the implementation of e-collaborative knowledge construction is necessary and then not only presents methods for facilitating e-collaborative knowledge construction, but also provides methods for assessing its results. This exciting new publication is a must-have for academics, researchers, and professionals who dare to discover new innovations

More than anything else, this book is a tribute to Edsger W. Dijkstra, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, by just a few of those fortunate enough to be influenced by him and his work and to be called his friend or relation, his master, colleague, or pupil. This book contains fifty-four technical contributions in different areas of endeavor, although many of them deal with an area of particular concern to Dijkstra: programming. Each contribution is relatively short and could be digested in one sitting. Together, they form a nice cross section of the discipline of programming at the beginning of the nineties. While many know of Dijkstra's technical contributions, they may not be aware of his ultimate goal, the mastery of complexity in mathematics and computing science. He has forcefully argued that beauty and elegance are essential to this mastery. The title of this book, chosen to reflect his ultimate goal, comes from a sentence in an article of his on some beautiful arguments using mathematical induction: .".". when we " "recognize the battle against chaos, mess, and unmastered " "complexity as one of computing sci"- "ence's major callings, " "we must admit that 'Beauty Is Our Business'.""

The requirements for multimedia (especially video and audio) communications increase rapidly in the last two decades in broad areas such as television, entertainment, interactive services, telecommunications, conference, medicine, security, business, traffic, defense and banking. Video and audio coding standards play most important roles in multimedia communications. In order to meet these requirements, series of video and audio coding standards have been developed such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-21 for audio and video by ISO/IEC, H.26x for video and G.72x for audio by ITU-T, Video Coder 1 (VC-1) for video by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and RealVideo (RV) 9 for video by Real Networks.

AVS China is the abbreviation for Audio Video Coding Standard of China. This new standard includes four main technical areas, which are systems, video, audio and digital copyright management (DRM), and some supporting documents such as consistency verification. The second part of the standard known as AVS1-P2 (Video - Jizhun) was approved as the national standard of China in 2006, and several final drafts of the standard have been completed, including AVS1-P1 (System - Broadcast), AVS1-P2 (Video - Zengqiang), AVS1-P3 (Audio - Double track), AVS1-P3 (Audio - 5.1), AVS1-P7 (Mobile Video), AVS-S-P2 (Video) and AVS-S-P3 (Audio). AVS China provides a technical solution for many applications such as digital broadcasting (SDTV and HDTV), high-density storage media, Internet streaming media, and will be used in the domestic IPTV, satellite and possibly the cable TV market. Comparing with other coding standards such as H.264 AVC, the advantages of AVS video standard include similar performance, lower complexity, lower implementation cost and licensing fees. This standard has attracted great deal of attention from industries related to television, multimedia communications and even chip manufacturing from around the world. Also many well known companies have joined the AVS Group to be Full Members or Observing Members. The 163 members of AVS Group include Texas Instruments (TI) Co., Agilent Technologies Co. Ltd., Envivio Inc., NDS, Philips Research East Asia, Aisino Corporation, LG, Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd., Nokia (China) Investment (NCIC) Co. Ltd., Sony (China) Ltd., and Toshiba (China) Co. Ltd. as well as some high level universities in China. Thus there is a pressing need from the instructors, students, and engineers for a book dealing with the topic of AVS China and its performance comparisons with similar standards such as H.264, VC-1 and RV-9.

One of the grand challenges in the nano-scopic computing era is guarantees of robustness. Robust computing system design is confronted with quantum physical, probabilistic, and even biological phenomena, and guaranteeing high reliability is much more difficult than ever before. Scaling devices down to the level of single electron operation will bring forth new challenges due to probabilistic effects and uncertainty in guaranteeing 'zero-one' based computing. Minuscule devices imply billions of devices on a single chip, which may help mitigate the challenge of uncertainty by replication and redundancy. However, such device densities will create a design and validation nightmare with the shear scale.
The questions that confront computer engineers regarding the current status of nanocomputing material and the reliability of systems built from such miniscule devices, are difficult to articulate and answer. We have found a lack of resources in the confines of a single volume that at least partially attempts to answer these questions.
We believe that this volume contains a large amount of research material as well as new ideas that will be very useful for some one starting research in the arena of nanocomputing, not at the device level, but the problems one would face at system level design and validation when nanoscopic physicality will be present at the device level.

The emergence of the system-on-chip (SoC) era is creating many new challenges at all stages of the design process. Engineers are reconsidering how designs are specified, partitioned and verified. With systems and software engineers programming in C/C++ and their hardware counterparts working in hardware description languages such as VHDL and Verilog, problems arise from the use of different design languages, incompatible tools and fragmented tool flows. Momentum is building behind the SystemC language and modeling platform as the best solution for representing functionality, communication, and software and hardware implementations at various levels of abstraction. The reason is clear: increasing design complexity demands very fast executable specifications to validate system concepts, and only C/C++ delivers adequate levels of abstraction, hardware-software integration, and performance. System design today also demands a single common language and modeling foundation in order to make interoperable system--level design tools, services and intellectual property a reality. SystemC is entirely based on C/C++ and the complete source code for the SystemC reference simulator can be freely downloaded from www.systemc.org and executed on both PCs and workstations. System Design and SystemC provides a comprehensive introduction to the powerful modeling capabilities of the SystemC language, and also provides a large and valuable set of system level modeling examples and techniques. Written by experts from Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Synopsys, Inc. who were deeply involved in the definition and implementation of the SystemC language and reference simulator, this book will provide you with thekey concepts you need to be successful with SystemC. System Design with SystemC thoroughly covers the new system level modeling capabilities available in SystemC 2.0 as well as the hardware modeling capabilities available in earlier versions of SystemC. designed and implemented the SystemC language and reference simulator, this book will provide you with the key concepts you need to be successful with SystemC. System Design with SystemC will be of interest to designers in industry working on complex system designs, as well as students and researchers within academia. All of the examples and techniques described within this book can be used with freely available compilers and debuggers &endash; no commercial software is needed. Instructions for obtaining the free source code for the examples obtained within this book are included in the first chapter.

The VITAL specification addresses the issues of interoperability, backannotation and high performance simulation for sign-off quality ASIC libraries in VHDL. VITAL provides modeling guidelines and a set of pre-defined packages (containing pre-defined routines for modeling functionality and timing) to facilitate the acceleration of designs which use cells from a VITAL library. The VITAL Level-I guidelines constrain the modeling capabilities provided by VHDL in order to facilitate higher performance (Figure I). Accumulating "gains" Constrained "flexibility" Higher performance & Increased capacity Benefits Flexibility FujI VHDL 1076 Figure 1: VHDL and VITAL Even within the Level-I guidelines, there are several ways in which a model can be written. In this chapter, we highlight the various modeling trade-offs and provide guidelines which can be used for developing efficient models. We will also discuss the techniques that can be used by tool developers to accelerate the simulation of VIT AL based designs. 2.2. OVERVIEW OF A VITAL LEVEL-l ARCIDTECTURE The VITAL specification is versatile enough to support several modeling styles e.g., distributed delay style, pin-to-pin delay style etc. In general, a VITAL Level-I model can have the structure illustrated in Figure 2."

This book provides an overview of recent progress in computer simulations of nonperturbative phenomena in quantum field theory, particularly in the context of the lattice approach. It is a collection of extensive self-contained reviews of various subtopics, including algorithms, spectroscopy, finite temperature physics, Yukawa and chiral theories, bounds on the Higgs meson mass, the renormalization group, and weak decays of hadrons.Physicists with some knowledge of lattice gauge ideas will find this book a useful and interesting source of information on the recent developments in the field.

This book provides an overview of recent progress in computer simulations of nonperturbative phenomena in quantum field theory, particularly in the context of the lattice approach. It is a collection of extensive self-contained reviews of various subtopics, including algorithms, spectroscopy, finite temperature physics, Yukawa and chiral theories, bounds on the Higgs meson mass, the renormalization group, and weak decays of hadrons.Physicists with some knowledge of lattice gauge ideas will find this book a useful and interesting source of information on the recent developments in the field.

Low-Power Digital VLSI Design: Circuits and Systems addresses both process technologies and device modeling. Power dissipation in CMOS circuits, several practical circuit examples, and low-power techniques are discussed. Low-voltage issues for digital CMOS and BiCMOS circuits are emphasized. The book also provides an extensive study of advanced CMOS subsystem design. A low-power design methodology is presented with various power minimization techniques at the circuit, logic, architecture and algorithm levels. Features: Low-voltage CMOS device modeling, technology files, design rules Switching activity concept, low-power guidelines to engineering practice Pass-transistor logic families Power dissipation of I/O circuits Multi- and low-VT CMOS logic, static power reduction circuit techniques State of the art design of low-voltage BiCMOS and CMOS circuits Low-power techniques in CMOS SRAMS and DRAMS Low-power on-chip voltage down converter design Numerous advanced CMOS subsystems (e.g. adders, multipliers, data path, memories, regular structures, phase-locked loops) with several design options trading power, delay and area Low-power design methodology, power estimation techniques Power reduction techniques at the logic, architecture and algorithm levels More than 190 circuits explained at the transistor level.

The future of English linguistics as envisaged by the editors of Topics in English Linguistics lies in empirical studies which integrate work in English linguistics into general and theoretical linguistics on the one hand, and comparative linguistics on the other. The TiEL series features volumes that present interesting new data and analyses, and above all fresh approaches that contribute to the overall aim of the series, which is to further outstanding research in English linguistics.

This volume presents the proceedings of the IFIP TC2 WG 2.5 Conference on Grid-Based Problem Solving Environments: Implications for Development and Deployment of Numerical Software, held in Prescott, Arizona from July 17-21, 2006.

Grid-Based Problem Solving Environments will be of particular interest to users of both grid-based and traditional problem solving environments, developers of both grid-based and traditional problem solving environments, developers of grid infrastructure, and developers of numerical software.

Among other topics, Grid-Based Problem Solving Environments explores the following:

- accuracy contracts and software services

- standards for problem specification

- service models for the use of numerical software

- using the grid to link numerical and other services together

- experiences with web-based numerical services

- application-oriented numerical interfaces such as web portals

- software deployment issues including updates and bug fixes

- large data (including data security) and grid-based numerical software

- grid-based services as an alternative to deployment

- evaluation and comparison of both production and research software

Over the last few decades, the constant developments in the IT field have expanded into nearly every discipline and aspect of life. Interdisciplinary Advances in Information Technology Research explores multiple fields and the research done as well as how they differentiate and relate to one another. This collection provides focused discussions from unique perspectives on the latest information technology research. Researchers, practitioners, and professionals will benefit from this publication s broad perspective.

This book is concerned with computing in materio: that is, unconventional computing performed by directly harnessing the physical properties of materials. It offers an overview of the field, covering four main areas of interest: theory, practice, applications and implications. Each chapter synthesizes current understanding by deliberately bringing together researchers across a collection of related research projects. The book is useful for graduate students, researchers in the field, and the general scientific reader who is interested in inherently interdisciplinary research at the intersections of computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and mathematics.

Email steals too much of your precious time, doesn't it?

Processing email takes way too much time because we never learned to manage it effectively. We are constantly interrupted, invest countless hours in it, re-read emails that languish in our inbox, store email we don't need and suffer from email overload. Don't you agree?

This book provides what you need to manage email, eliminate the overload and save your precious time. It will help you minimize interruption, overcome indecision and empty your inbox. It will help you organize priorities and manage time, so you can get your work done--at work. You can give up doing email at dinner and in bed. Good idea?

As digital technologies play a key role across all aspects of our societies and in everyday life, teaching students about data is becoming increasingly important in schools and universities around the world. Bringing together international case studies of innovative responses to datafication, this book sets an agenda for how teachers, students and policy makers can best understand what kind of educational intervention works and why. Learning to Live with Datafication is unique in its focus on educational responses to datafication as well as critical analysis. Through case studies grounded in empirical research and practice, the book explores the dimensions of datafication from diverse perspectives that bring in a range of cultural aspects. It examines how educators conceptualise the social implications of datafication and what is at stake for learners and citizens as educational institutions try to define what datafication will mean for the next generation. Written by international leaders in this emerging field, this book will be of interest to teacher educators, researchers and post graduate students in education who have an interest in datafication and data literacies.

Wireless ad hoc sensor networks has recently become a very active research subject. Achieving efficient, fault-tolerant realizations of very large, highly dynamic, complex, unconventional networks is a real challenge for abstract modelling, algorithmic design and analysis, but a solid foundational and theoretical background seems to be lacking. This book presents high-quality contributions by leading experts worldwide on the key algorithmic and complexity-theoretic aspects of wireless sensor networks. The intended audience includes researchers and graduate students working on sensor networks, and the broader areas of wireless networking and distributed computing, as well as practitioners in the relevant application areas. The book can also serve as a text for advanced courses and seminars.

Thirteen essays explore the varying virtual, physical, cultural and institutional contexts influencing the nature of electronic space for women and explore the intersection of feminisms, power, authority, voice, and computer technologies. It also contains four interviews with prominent scholars, which historicize the disciplinary formation of computers and composition and the impact of technology on the professional lives of women. This collection continues the ongoing conversation exploring the theoretical, pedagogical, and political implications of computer technologies for composition studies, with an primary audience of teachers and theorists of writing in electronic environments.

This text concerns the computer-based design and modelling, computational approaches and instrumental methods for elucidating molecular mechanisms of protein folding. Ligand-acceptor interactions are included in volumes 202 and 203 as are genetic and chemical methods for the production of functional molecules including antibodies and antigens, enzymes, receptors, nucleic acids and polysaccharides and drugs.

The ability to uncover, share, and utilize knowledge is one of the most vital components to the success of any organization. While new technologies and techniques of knowledge dissemination are promising, there is still a struggle to derive and circulate meaningful information from large data sets. Strategic Data-Based Wisdom in the Big Data Era combines the latest empirical research findings, best practices, and applicable theoretical frameworks surrounding data analytics and knowledge acquisition. Providing a multi-disciplinary perspective of the subject area, this book is an essential reference source for professionals and researchers working in the field of knowledge management who would like to improve their understanding of the strategic role of data-based wisdom in different types of work communities and environments.

"Pro Crystal Enterprise/BusinessObjects XI Programming" shows you how to create customized solutions using the Business Objects/Crystal Enterprise object model. Here youll see the object model utilized to create professional-quality tools like on-demand web services, report metadata extraction, scheduling, security, and user management.

Author Carl Ganz explains in detail how to build advanced reporting solutions for Crystal Enterprise/Business Objects XI. He shows how to integrate CE/BO XI with .NET 2.0 and Visual Studio to create more flexible, tailored, and responsive reporting solutions than have previously been possible. In short, you'll surpass what you thought you could achieve, and learn to create almost any imaginable reporting solution that Business Objects XI can handle.

Since its first volume in 1960, Advances in Computers has presented detailed coverage of innovations in computer hardware, software, theory, design, and applications. It has also provided contributors with a medium in which they can explore their subjects in greater depth and breadth than journal articles usually allow. As a result, many articles have become standard references that continue to be of significant, lasting value in this rapidly expanding field.

Enterprise Modeling: Improving Global Industrial Competitiveness gives an overview of the current state-of-the-art in enterprise modeling and its application. Enterprise modeling is both a concept and a tool that is highly developed at the research level, but which still promises many new industrial applications. Enterprise models constitute a theoretical basis for the information system in an enterprise and are regarded by many as a substantial opportunity to improve global industrial competitiveness. Enterprise Modeling: Improving Global Industrial Competitiveness gives the reader an understanding of enterprise modeling as a concept and provides examples of its application by describing some of the currently available tools. It is organized in five parts: overview and international trends, the basis of enterprise modeling, application areas, implementation, and industrial experience with enterprise modeling. Enterprise Modeling: Improving Global Industrial Competitiveness is useful to developers of business information systems, users of technical information systems, engineers within operations management, and engineers and economists dealing with performance assessment and improvement. Enterprise Modeling: Improving Global Industrial Competitiveness is suitable as a secondary text for a graduate level course, and as a reference for researchers and practitioners in industry.