Platform Dependent Verification: On Engineering Verification Tools for 21st Century

The paper overviews recent developments in platform-dependent explicit-state LTL model checking.Comment: In Proceedings PDMC 2011, arXiv:1111.006

The development of computer science research in the People's Republic of China 2000-2009: A bibliometric study

This paper reports a bibliometric study of the development of computer science research in the People's Republic of China in the 21st century, using data from the Web of Science, Journal Citation Reports and CORE databases. Focusing on the areas of data mining, operating systems and web design, it is shown that whilst the productivity of Chinese research has risen dramatically over the period under review, its impact is still low when compared with established scientific nations such as the USA, the UK and Japan. The publication and citation data for China are compared with corresponding data for the other three BRIC nations (Brazil, Russian and India). It is shown that China dominates the BRIC nations in terms of both publications and citations, but that Indian publications often have a greater individual impact. © The Author(s) 2012

Multilayer composite AZO/AGZO thin films for transparent conductive electrodes

Transparent electronics are an essential ingredient in many new technologies which are emerging in the 21st century - high efficiency solar cells[ll, interactive and transparent displays, energy efficient windows, and photonics for communications and computing[2J. The development of functionalised transparent conductive oxide materials (TCOs), in terms of abundant, cheap and environmentally friendly, is critical for materials science in such applications. Specifically, an impmiant research goal is to find substitutes for the dominant TCO material indium tin oxide (ITO), made from indium which is scarce, expensive and toxic. Zinc oxides doped with small amounts of aluminium (AZO), are promising candidates for such a substitute but generally don't perform as well as IT0[2l. Gallium co-doping with aluminium improves AZO performance significantly, but raises similar concerns to ITO, in terms of the scarcity and high cost of gallium. This project aims to enhance the conductivity of AZO thin films-by adding a thin 'seed' layer co-doped with AI and minimum Ga concentration (AGZO). The project employed solution based sol-gel technique for synthesising AZO/GZO nanoparticles and then deposited on glass substrates through a spin coating process, followed by thermal annealing treatment. The optical properties, crystal structure and surface morphology of the films were characterised using UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Composite multilayer films, with thickness around 400nm, exhibit transmittance above 90% across the visible range and resistivity approximately 10 O•cm. Preliminary results indicate significant improvement in AZO films with the co-doped AGZO layer, compared with AZO films alone. Compared to uniformly doped AGZO films, the composite multilayer films exhibited similar performance, but with only 20% of the gallium consumed

After the SKA - Radio Astronomy in 2049

The concept of a Square Kilometre Array was developed to ensure that progress in Radio Astronomy in the early 21st Century continued at the same impressive pace as was achieved during the first 50 years. The SKA telescope is designed to pave that road to greater and greater sensitivity. So what technical challenges does the project face and what key innovations will drive the success of the SKA? What will the next Radio Astronomy mega-science project look like? In this article the author discusses the likely avenues of progress in the coming decades and comments on the status of radio astronomy in 2049 - the author's 70th (and presumably her retirement) year.Comment: Conference Proceedings PoS(RTS2012), 8 pages, 1 figur

Integrating Technology With Student-Centered Learning

Reviews research on technology's role in personalizing learning, its integration into curriculum-based and school- or district-wide initiatives, and the potential of emerging digital technologies to expand student-centered learning. Outlines implications

21st Century Simulation: Exploiting High Performance Computing and Data Analysis

This paper identifies, defines, and analyzes the limitations imposed on Modeling and Simulation by outmoded paradigms in computer utilization and data analysis. The authors then discuss two emerging capabilities to overcome these limitations: High Performance Parallel Computing and Advanced Data Analysis. First, parallel computing, in supercomputers and Linux clusters, has proven effective by providing users an advantage in computing power. This has been characterized as a ten-year lead over the use of single-processor computers. Second, advanced data analysis techniques are both necessitated and enabled by this leap in computing power. JFCOM's JESPP project is one of the few simulation initiatives to effectively embrace these concepts. The challenges facing the defense analyst today have grown to include the need to consider operations among non-combatant populations, to focus on impacts to civilian infrastructure, to differentiate combatants from non-combatants, and to understand non-linear, asymmetric warfare. These requirements stretch both current computational techniques and data analysis methodologies. In this paper, documented examples and potential solutions will be advanced. The authors discuss the paths to successful implementation based on their experience. Reviewed technologies include parallel computing, cluster computing, grid computing, data logging, OpsResearch, database advances, data mining, evolutionary computing, genetic algorithms, and Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses. The modeling and simulation community has significant potential to provide more opportunities for training and analysis. Simulations must include increasingly sophisticated environments, better emulations of foes, and more realistic civilian populations. Overcoming the implementation challenges will produce dramatically better insights, for trainees and analysts. High Performance Parallel Computing and Advanced Data Analysis promise increased understanding of future vulnerabilities to help avoid unneeded mission failures and unacceptable personnel losses. The authors set forth road maps for rapid prototyping and adoption of advanced capabilities. They discuss the beneficial impact of embracing these technologies, as well as risk mitigation required to ensure success