3,080,004 research outputs found

    A Backward Analysis for Constraint Logic Programs

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    One recurring problem in program development is that of understanding how to re-use code developed by a third party. In the context of (constraint) logic programming, part of this problem reduces to figuring out how to query a program. If the logic program does not come with any documentation, then the programmer is forced to either experiment with queries in an ad hoc fashion or trace the control-flow of the program (backward) to infer the modes in which a predicate must be called so as to avoid an instantiation error. This paper presents an abstract interpretation scheme that automates the latter technique. The analysis presented in this paper can infer moding properties which if satisfied by the initial query, come with the guarantee that the program and query can never generate any moding or instantiation errors. Other applications of the analysis are discussed. The paper explains how abstract domains with certain computational properties (they condense) can be used to trace control-flow backward (right-to-left) to infer useful properties of initial queries. A correctness argument is presented and an implementation is reported.Comment: 32 page

    Zombies in Searle's Chinese Room: Putting the Turing Test to Bed

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    Searleā€™s discussions over the years 1980-2004 of the implications of his ā€œChinese Roomā€ Gedanken experiment are frustrating because they proceed from a correct assertion: (1) ā€œInstantiating a computer program is never by itself a sufficient condition of intentionality;ā€ and an incorrect assertion: (2) ā€œThe explanation of how the brain produces intentionality cannot be that it does it by instantiating a computer program.ā€ In this article, I describe how to construct a Gedanken zombie Chinese Room program that will pass the Turing test and at the same time unambiguously demonstrates the correctness of (1). I then describe how to construct a Gedanken Chinese brain program that will pass the Turing test, has a mind, and understands Chinese, thus demonstrating that (2) is incorrect. Searleā€™s instantiation of this program can and does produce intentionality. Searleā€™s longstanding ignorance of Chinese is simply irrelevant and always has been. I propose a truce and a plan for further exploration

    HOW CAN THE BALANCED SCORECARD DEVELOP A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE FBI?

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    Superior performance with long-lasting effects is the hallmark of a thriving organization. The success or failure of any organization hinges on its leaders to make the correct decisions at the correct time. As an organization grows in size and diversity, leadership must look both horizontally and vertically to ensure that the mission is completed. The leadership of any successful organization must be able to rely on its executive level management, its subordinates, as well as those in positions of authority who are similar in nature. This research paper examines the use of Kaplan and Nortonā€™s balanced scorecard as a conceptual model to evaluate the Federal Bureau of Investigationā€™s performance. The paper explores the balanced scorecardā€™s identified deficits, discusses the potential reasons for the deficiencies, and makes recommendations on potential ways to address these shortcomings.Civilian, Federal Bureau of InvestigationApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

    An Undeserved Reputation: How Contract Courses Can Work for a Small Honors Program

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    In the first chapter of this volume, Richard Badenhausen argues that contract courses have often suffered from ambiguous or homogenous expectations, compromising honors pedagogy and learning. Anecdotally, not many positive attributes have been ascribed to contract courses in the honors community. Contracts often require more work than courses to establish and administer to completion. Given the shortcomings and the amount of work required to implement contract courses successfully, why are they used at all? I argue that, in some cases, contract coursesā€”or non-honors courses that move beyond regular course requirements with agreed-upon independent study work mentored by the professorā€”are the best option for small honors programs. At institutions where dedicated upperdivision honors classes could not meet institutional enrollment minima, contracts can be used to create access to honors education that would otherwise be unavailable. Further, the advantages of contracts can be leveraged even as their disadvantages are mitigated to a large degree, particularly through high-touch, proactive advising practices, in order to improve the quality of the honors experience for students. At a small honors program, contract courses can be a cost-effective means of providing access to a valuable and customized honors experience for students

    The economics of garbage collection

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    This paper argues that economic theory can improve our understanding of memory management. We introduce the allocation curve, as an analogue of the demand curve from microeconomics. An allocation curve for a program characterises how the amount of garbage collection activity required during its execution varies in relation to the heap size associated with that program. The standard treatment of microeconomic demand curves (shifts and elasticity) can be applied directly and intuitively to our new allocation curves. As an application of this new theory, we show how allocation elasticity can be used to control the heap growth rate for variable sized heaps in Jikes RVM
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