IDDAP -- Interactive computer assistance for creative digital design

A new computer-aided design program to assist in the initial phases of logical design is described. The program, intended for use via an on-line remote terminal, will allow the designer to study and experiment with design alternatives during the initial creative design phases. An ALGOL-like language is used for specifying the system being designed. In addition to simulating the design, the program allows the user to perform on-line design changes, reorganize data and generate timing diagram information --Abstract, page ii

ENIQ Technical Report - Link Between Risk-Informed In-Service Inspection and Inspection Qualification

There is a growing need for a quantitative measure of inspection effectiveness as an input to quantitative risk-informed in-service inspection (RI-ISI). A Probability of Detection (POD) curve could provide a suitable metric. However there can be significant problems associated with generating realistic POD curves by practical trials. The ENIQ inspection qualification methodology can provide high assurance that an inspection system will achieve its objectives, but is not designed to provide a quantitative measure of the type that can be used in RI-ISI analysis. A project, led by Doosan Babcock, was therefore set up with main objectives to investigate approaches to quantifying the confidence associated with inspection qualification and to produce guidelines on how to relate inspection qualification results, risk reduction and inspection interval. This report discusses how a simplified POD curve, such as a step curve, could be used as the target for inspection qualification, or as an output from it. Work to investigate the sensitivity of relative risk reduction to the details of the POD curve is described from which it is concluded that use of a simplified POD curve could be justified. Two methods for quantifying the outcome from inspection qualification are described. The first method is a relatively simple process based on direct expert judgement. The second method is based on a more rigorous structured process employing Bayesian statistics, in which the subjective degree of belief in inspection capability derived from a Technical Justification (TJ) is expressed in probabilistic terms, and combined with data from practical trials results. Two pilot studies are described which involved a qualification body applying the quantification methods in practice. Recommendations for further work to make the approaches developed more robust are provided.JRC.F.5-Safety of present nuclear reactor

A promoção da capacidade absortiva dos recursos de cluster e o local buzz através das associações de produtores da caprinocultura no Cariri Paraibano

Purpose – This paper contributes to the literature on local buzz and the absorptive capacity of firms aiming the competitiveness of the local productive agglomerations. The associations of producers of goat's milk and derivatives of Cariri Paraibano were analyzed. They form a cluster of 881 partners and are responsible for the production of approximately 8,631 liters of goat milk per day. The research objective was to identify, based on the local buzz, the participants' awareness about the clustering benefits and the absorption of cluster resources.Design/methodology/approach – It used a qualitative methodology based on a case study. Various sources of evidence were used to guarantee the reliability of results. So, it performs triangulation of in-depth interviews, direct observation, and content analysis of documents.Findings – The results indicated the existence of knowledge about goat production, a similar level of absorptive capacity between the producer associations, and a degree of awareness of the advantages of being agglomerated. Also, findings evidenced external knowledge not absorbed by the producers that could be linked to the incompleteness of the association's role as cluster vectors.Originality/value – The sector dynamics depend on the organizations' view on the importance of information and its use in the operation of firms in order to increase their absorptive capacity.Proposta - Este artigo contribui para a literatura sobre local buzz e a capacidade absortiva das empresas visando a competitividade dos arranjos produtivos locais. Analisou-se as associações de produtores de leite de cabra e derivados do Cariri Paraibano que formam um aglomerado produtivo de 881 parceiros responsáveis pela produção de aproximadamente 8.631 litros de leite caprino por dia. O objetivo da pesquisa foi identificar a partir do local buzz a consciência dos participantes sobre os benefícios de integrarem este cluster e a absorção dos recursos do cluster.Desenho Metodológico - A metodologia aplicada é qualitativa, sendo um estudo de caso que realiza a triangulação de fontes de evidências, entrevistas em profundidade, observação direta e análise de conteúdo de documentos.Resultados - Os resultados indicaram a existência de conhecimento sobre a caprinocultura, similaridade no nível de capacidade absortiva entre as associações do cluster, e um grau de consciência das vantagens de estar aglomerado. Também indicaram que existem conhecimentos externos que não estão sendo absorvidos pelos produtores e que podem estar vinculados a incompletude do papel das associações como vetores do cluster.Originalidade - A dinâmica do setor depende da visão das organizações sobre a importância da informação e consequente, seu uso na operação das empresas a fim de ampliar a capacidade absortiva das mesmas

Feasibility study of an Integrated Program for Aerospace vehicle Design (IPAD). Volume 4: IPAD system design

The computing system design of IPAD is described and the requirements which form the basis for the system design are discussed. The system is presented in terms of a functional design description and technical design specifications. The functional design specifications give the detailed description of the system design using top-down structured programming methodology. Human behavioral characteristics, which specify the system design at the user interface, security considerations, and standards for system design, implementation, and maintenance are also part of the technical design specifications. Detailed specifications of the two most common computing system types in use by the major aerospace companies which could support the IPAD system design are presented. The report of a study to investigate migration of IPAD software between the two candidate 3rd generation host computing systems and from these systems to a 4th generation system is included

A theory of effects and resources: adjunction models and polarised calculi

We consider the Curry-Howard-Lambek correspondence for effectful computation and resource management, specifically proposing polarised calculi together with presheaf-enriched adjunction models as the starting point for a comprehensive semantic theory relating logical systems, typed calculi, and categorical models in this context. Our thesis is that the combination of effects and resources should be considered orthogonally. Model theoretically, this leads to an understanding of our categorical models from two complementary perspectives: (i) as a linearisation of CBPV (Call-by-Push-Value) adjunction models, and (ii) as an extension of linear/non-linear adjunction models with an adjoint resolution of computational effects. When the linear structure is cartesian and the resource structure is trivial we recover Levy’s notion of CBPV adjunction model, while when the effect structure is trivial we have Benton’s linear/nonlinear adjunction models. Further instances of our model theory include the dialogue categories with a resource modality of Melliès and Tabareau, and the [E]EC ([Enriched] Effect Calculus) models of Egger, Møgelberg and Simpson. Our development substantiates the approach by providing a lifting theorem of linear models into cartesian ones. artesian ones. To each of our categorical models we systematically associate a typed term calculus, each of which corresponds to a variant of the sequent calculi LJ (Intuitionistic Logic) or ILL (Intuitionistic Linear Logic). The adjoint resolution of effects corresponds to polarisation whereby, syntactically, types locally determine a strict or lazy evaluation order and, semantically, the associativity of cuts is relaxed. In particular, our results show that polarisation provides a computational interpretation of CBPV in direct style. Further, we characterise depolarised models: those where the cut is associative, and where the evaluation order is unimportant. We explain possible advantages of this style of calculi for the operational semantics of effects.G. Munch-Maccagnoni was supported by ERC ECSYM; M. Fiore partially so.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Association for Computing Machinery via http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2837614.283765

From High School to Higher Degrees: Teaching and Supporting Learning for Students entering Postgraduate Professional Study without Undergraduate Degrees.

Purpose – This paper reports research into motives and concerns of non-graduate students accessing a two-year, part-time, professional, post-graduate programme via recognition of prior learning, and tutor efforts to engage them and support learning and achievement. Design/methodology/approach – Five secondary sources provided data on 72 students. Research instruments were; a background questionnaire, student performance profiles, mock exam participation data, an online survey on the student-centred approach to delivery, and a generic module evaluation survey. Findings - Regardless of prior academic exposure, most students were driven by extrinsic career related motives, most worried about work and family pressures as potential barriers to academic achievement, but few worried about individual ability to meet academic standards. Graduates out performed non-graduates and were more likely to engage in formative assessment. Efforts of tutors to implement student-centred learning were well received and engagement in formative assessment and feedback activity impacted positively on performance. Research limitations – Research relied on secondary data and was limited to students on two cohorts. Therefore there are limits to what might be extrapolated from the data. Practical implications - Tutors should recognise the gap between graduate and non-graduate performance and whilst making active interventions to close the gap, be more explicit with non-graduates about the demands of post-graduate study. Originality/value – Relatively little research is available on the experiences and achievement of non-graduates accessing post-graduate study via RPL. Keywords - Non-graduates; post-graduate study; recognition of prior learning (RPL); student-centred learning (SCL); barriers and enablers to learning. Paper type – working paper

An Exploration of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) in Companies and Organisations in Ireland Valorisation, Return on Investment, and Emerging Trends

This thesis explored the topic of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in companies and organisations in Ireland against a backdrop of global, European, and national policy initiatives on the recognition of all forms of formal, non-formal and informal learning. The immediate context was coloured by shifts in employment, in labour markets, and in education and training policies because of increasing economic difficulties globally, and the greater levels of attention being paid to the role of education and training in the economic and social development of a country. The primary research question for the thesis was: Is there a return on investment from the recognition of prior learning (RPL) to companies and organisations that use RPL in their learning and development strategies? Return on investment in this research was conceived as achievement of impact at a societal, organisational, and individual level. The research approach was broadly social constructionist and interpretative. It took a multiperspective approach to explore past, current, and future perspectives of RPL in companies and organisations. There were three methodological strands of inquiry employed in the thesis. The first was an historical study to analyse previous RPL projects using a framework of valorisation. The second was a comparative analysis of RPL case studies in sixteen companies, professional bodies, training bodies, and community organisations. The third and final was a Delphi Future-Oriented Survey with experts in the areas of higher education, further education, workplace learning, vocational education, educational policy, and industry. The research findings indicated that initially RPL suffered from efforts to reconcile perceptions of ‘traditional’ learning as the sole route to achieve a qualification with the RPL route. In current practice RPL in companies and organisations is concerned with engaging with, rewarding and recognising the services of its employees. RPL is also considered a means to address continuing professional development needs without recourse to ‘training’. Finally, RPL is a means to link national, sectoral, and organisational training and qualifications systems to validate and professionalise company training and provide the potential for occupational mobility. From a policy perspective return on investment from RPL is concerned with labour mobility, social inclusion, improved individual career prospects, employee morale, and alternate pathways to qualifications. In practice labour mobility and social inclusion were not high on company or organisational agendas. This thesis finds that drives for economic competitiveness and up-skilling of the labour force in conjunction with economic difficulties have prioritised accredited employee development initiatives which are tied to national and sectoral qualifications frameworks. RPL development in companies and organisations is linked to these drives particularly as a means of employee engagement within the context of continuing professional development (CPD) rather than the annual evaluation process. It is therefore suggested, on the basis of the research findings, that companies and organisations should consider re-conceptualising CPD using RPL to achieve employee engagement

Security Mechanisms for Workflows in Service-Oriented Architectures

Die Arbeit untersucht, wie sich Unterstützung für Sicherheit und Identitätsmanagement in ein Workflow-Management-System integrieren lässt. Basierend auf einer Anforderungsanalyse anhand eines Beispiels aus der beruflichen Weiterbildung und einem Abgleich mit dem Stand der Technik wird eine Architektur für die sichere Ausführung von Workflows und die Integration mit Identitätsmanagement-Systemen entwickelt, die neue Anwendungen mit verbesserter Sicherheit und Privatsphäre ermöglicht

Topological Foundations of Cognitive Science

A collection of papers presented at the First International Summer Institute in Cognitive Science, University at Buffalo, July 1994, including the following papers: ** Topological Foundations of Cognitive Science, Barry Smith ** The Bounds of Axiomatisation, Graham White ** Rethinking Boundaries, Wojciech Zelaniec ** Sheaf Mereology and Space Cognition, Jean Petitot ** A Mereotopological Definition of 'Point', Carola Eschenbach ** Discreteness, Finiteness, and the Structure of Topological Spaces, Christopher Habel ** Mass Reference and the Geometry of Solids, Almerindo E. Ojeda ** Defining a 'Doughnut' Made Difficult, N .M. Gotts ** A Theory of Spatial Regions with Indeterminate Boundaries, A.G. Cohn and N.M. Gotts ** Mereotopological Construction of Time from Events, Fabio Pianesi and Achille C. Varzi ** Computational Mereology: A Study of Part-of Relations for Multi-media Indexing, Wlodek Zadrozny and Michelle Ki