Searching for incomplete self orthogonal latin squares : a targeted and parallel approach

The primary purpose of this dissertation is in the search for new methods in which to search for Incomplete Self Orthogonal Latin Squares. As such a full understanding of the structures involved must be examined, starting from basic Latin Squares. The structures will be explained and built upon in order to cover Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares, Frame Latin Squares and Self Orthogonal Latin Squares. In addition the related structure Orthogonal Arrays, will be explained as they relate to Incomplete Self Orthogonal Latin Squares. This paper also dedicates time to explaining basic search methods and optimizations that can be done. The two search methods of focus are the backtracking algorithm and heuristic searches. In our 6nal method the two will work together to achieve an improved result. The methods currently being used to search in parallel are also provided, along with the necessary backup to there structure. The main research of this paper is focused on the search for Incomplete Self Orthogonal Squares. This is done by breaking down the problem into four separate areas of the square. By separating the blocks it enables us to work on a smaller problem while eliminating many incorrect solutions. The solution methodology is broken up into three steps and systematically solving the individual areas of the square. By taking advantage of the properties of squares to constrain our search as much as possible we succeeded in reducing the total search time significantly. Unfortunately, even with our improvement in the overall search time, no open incomplete self orthogonal latin square problems could be solved. Full results and comparisons to existing methods are provided

Bibliography on Realizability

AbstractThis document is a bibliography on realizability and related matters. It has been collected by Lars Birkedal based on submissions from the participants in “A Workshop on Realizability Semantics and Its Applications”, Trento, Italy, June 30–July 1, 1999. It is available in BibTEX format at the following URL: http://www.cs.cmu.edu./~birkedal/realizability-bib.html

Moduli Spaces for Principal Bundles in Arbitrary Characteristic

In this article, we solve the problem of constructing moduli spaces of semistable principal bundles (and singular versions of them) over smooth projective varieties over algebraically closed ground fields of positive characteristic.Comment: V4: Final version, to appear in Advances in Mathematics, 69p

It Permeates the Whole Fabric of Your Life\u27: The Experience of Scholars Who Have Studied Self-Directed Learning

Self-directed learning has been one of the most widely studied topics within the field of adult education over the past three decades. It has gone from being a revelation for some to a topic heavily criticized by others. For those who have studied the concept, it has been a continued area of scholarly writing and research, while for others it is no longer a core area of interest. Some have even suggested this area of study is dead and it is time to move on. Little has been done to investigate how self-directed learning has developed over the years. The purpose of this dissertation is to describe the evolution of scholarship on self-directed learning as experienced by the people who have studied it. The method consists of interviews with eight scholars who have made major contributions to the literature of self-directed learning since the inid 1960s. Research design and data collection were informed by phenomenology while data were analyzed on the basis of upon hermeneutic interpretation. In addition, the rich nature of data presented an opportunity to talk about personal stories of each expert. Findings are presented through three lenses. First, results provided insight through a mini-case study of each participant. Second, a content analysis disclosed the data were in four descriptive categories: histories, learning theories, importance of a collaborative approach, and ideas about self-direction\u27s future. Third, the experience of participants with self-directed learning evolved into a thematic structure involving four aspects defining its meaning for them: lifelong learning, can\u27t do it alone, the critical side, and need for a model/mentor. This study indicated that participants contributed 200 publications to the literature of self-directed learning and directed 80 doctoral dissertations involving self-direction. Through a living literature review, the professors provided insight into their histories by how they came to know and understand this topic over the years. Their personal theories of learning were discussed while each person\u27s vision helped divulge new ideas for research and provide an opinion for the future of this topic. Last, the thematic structure of their experiences gives rise to an alternative view of self-directed learning

Patient-Specific Implants in Musculoskeletal (Orthopedic) Surgery

Most of the treatments in medicine are patient specific, aren’t they? So why should we bother with individualizing implants if we adapt our therapy to patients anyway? Looking at the neighboring field of oncologic treatment, you would not question the fact that individualization of tumor therapy with personalized antibodies has led to the thriving of this field in terms of success in patient survival and positive responses to alternatives for conventional treatments. Regarding the latest cutting-edge developments in orthopedic surgery and biotechnology, including new imaging techniques and 3D-printing of bone substitutes as well as implants, we do have an armamentarium available to stimulate the race for innovation in medicine. This Special Issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine will gather all relevant new and developed techniques already in clinical practice. Examples include the developments in revision arthroplasty and tumor (pelvic replacement) surgery to recreate individual defects, individualized implants for primary arthroplasty to establish physiological joint kinematics, and personalized implants in fracture treatment, to name but a few

The Intermediate Isolation System for new and existing buildings: seismic behavior and design criteria

Seismic isolation is nowadays a mature technology in the field of civil engineering, appreciated for its conceptual simplicity and its effectiveness in mitigating the seismic actions on structures. After decades of applications, in which isolated buildings have exhibited excellent seismic behavior even during major earthquakes, the base isolation system (BIS) technology is today widespread and popular all over the world, representing a valid option for structural designers to ensure superior seismic performance to new buildings or in order to retrofit existing ones. Throughout the years, architectural needs pushed the limits of the isolation technology in search for new structural configurations. Amongst the structural technologies deriving from the base isolation concept, intermediate isolation represents one of the most interesting. The Intermediate Isolation System (IIS, also appointed as mid-story or inter-story isolation) is a very actual topic and it is currently spreading and gaining significant popularity, mainly in Japan. Advantages of the IIS system include a remarkable architectural flexibility (different functions and, as a consequence, different structural systems are allowed for upper and lower structures) and the applicability for high-rise buildings. In some cases, an elevation with inter-story isolation has been proved to serve as a valid retrofit strategy for existing buildings, avoiding massive retrofit interventions in the lower structure and disruption of the hosted activities. However, while the design concept of base isolation is today highly mature and several thousands of applications have been realized, for the IIS not a single, fully shared design approach is defined, but multiple approaches. The overview of the main scientific contributions on this topic provided in the inherent literature reflects the variety of approaches, both in the formulation of the problem and in the definition of the design objectives and parameters. Basically, three major conceptual approaches can be clearly identified, each mainly focusing on one single aspect of the three ones related to IIS, namely: energy dissipation, isolation, mass damping. In this context, the aim of the present thesis is to explore the actual and potential applications of IIS, by identifying the predominant role among the three behavioral aspects, and by defining design criteria for benefit from all these aspects. In a first step of research the analysis of two real building case-studies representative of the wide IIS applicability, has been carried out, in order to interpret the latest design practice in the light of approaches and indications coming from the world of research. Hence, starting from the precious outcomes of the analyses, two parametric analyses have been carried out, considering both new and existing buildings. In the first parametric analysis, developed on 1D-MDOF inter-story isolated models, the influence of different locations of the isolation system along the building height, and of different mass and stiffness distributions, has been investigated. In the second parametric analysis, carried out on 1D-3DOF inter-story isolated models, the response of an IIS vertical addition for retrofitting an existing masonry building, has been investigated, with the aim of identifying the optimal isolated superstructure configuration; then, a 3D FEM model is adopted for the detailed analysis of the IIS structure

Land evaluation for land - use planning and conservation in sloping areas : international workshop, Enschede, The Netherlands, 17 - 21 December 1984

ISSS FAO ITC congress land evaluatio