Proving soundness of combinatorial Vickrey auctions and generating verified executable code

Using mechanised reasoning we prove that combinatorial Vickrey auctions are soundly specified in that they associate a unique outcome (allocation and transfers) to any valid input (bids). Having done so, we auto-generate verified executable code from the formally defined auction. This removes a source of error in implementing the auction design. We intend to use formal methods to verify new auction designs. Here, our contribution is to introduce and demonstrate the use of formal methods for auction verification in the familiar setting of a well-known auction

Kesedaran terhadap amalan pemakanan seimbang dalam kalangan pelajar Politeknik Merlimau, Melaka: satu tinjauan

Pemakanan yang baik mula mempengaruhi kesihatan tubuh badan sejak daripada kecil lagi. Pemakanan memainkan peranan penting dalam mengekalkan kesihatan dan mencegah penyakit. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilakukan adalah bertujuan untuk meninjau sejauhmanakah kesedaran pelajar politeknik terhadap amalan pemakanan seimbang. Skop yang dikaji dalam kajian ini ialah menentukan tahap pengetahuan pelajar terhadap pemakanan seimbang, meninjau faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pemilihan pemakanan pelajar, menentukan tahap kesedaran pelajar terhadap amalan pemakanan seimbang serta mengenalpasti hubungan yang signifikan di antara tahap pengetahuan dengan amalan pemakanan seimbang. Reka bentuk kajian yang digunakan penyelidik adalah kajian deskriptif berbentuk tinjauan. Saiz sampel seramai 297 orang responden telah terlibat dalam kajian ini melibatkan Politeknik Merlimau, Melaka dari semua jabatan. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah borang soal selidik. Data dalam kajian ini dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian Statistical Package For Social Science (SPSS) versi 21.0 bagi mendapatkan nilai skor min, kekerapan, sisihan piawai, peratusan (%) serta Ujian Korelasi Pearson kerana data bertaburan normal. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahawa tahap pengetahuan pelajar terhadap pemakanan seimbang masih di peringkat sederhana. Selain itu, melalui kajian ini dapat dibuktikan bahawa harga makanan dan keluarga merupakan faktor utama yang mempengaruhi pemilihan makanan pelajar. Walaupun tahap pengetahuan mereka sederhana, akan tetapi kesedaran mereka terhadap amalan pemakanan seimbang tinggi. Melalui analisis ujian korelasi Pearson mendapati bahawa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan di antara tahap pengetahuan pelajar dengan amalan pemakanan mereka. Walaupun sedemikian, perhubungan yang wujud adalah pada tahap sederhana dan positif. Kata kunci : Pemakanan seimbang, pengetahuan, amalan pemakanan seimbang, kesedaran

Model-based dependability analysis : state-of-the-art, challenges and future outlook

Abstract: Over the past two decades, the study of model-based dependability analysis has gathered significant research interest. Different approaches have been developed to automate and address various limitations of classical dependability techniques to contend with the increasing complexity and challenges of modern safety-critical system. Two leading paradigms have emerged, one which constructs predictive system failure models from component failure models compositionally using the topology of the system. The other utilizes design models - typically state automata - to explore system behaviour through fault injection. This paper reviews a number of prominent techniques under these two paradigms, and provides an insight into their working mechanism, applicability, strengths and challenges, as well as recent developments within these fields. We also discuss the emerging trends on integrated approaches and advanced analysis capabilities. Lastly, we outline the future outlook for model-based dependability analysis

A Compositional Framework for Preference-Aware Agents

A formal description of a Cyber-Physical system should include a rigorous specification of the computational and physical components involved, as well as their interaction. Such a description, thus, lends itself to a compositional model where every module in the model specifies the behavior of a (computational or physical) component or the interaction between different components. We propose a framework based on Soft Constraint Automata that facilitates the component-wise description of such systems and includes the tools necessary to compose subsystems in a meaningful way, to yield a description of the entire system. Most importantly, Soft Constraint Automata allow the description and composition of components' preferences as well as environmental constraints in a uniform fashion. We illustrate the utility of our framework using a detailed description of a patrolling robot, while highlighting methods of composition as well as possible techniques to employ them.Comment: In Proceedings V2CPS-16, arXiv:1612.0402

A Scala Embedded DSL for Combinatorial Optimization in Software Requirements Engineering

The goal of the presented work is to provide support for software requirements engineering domain experts in modeling combinatorial optimization problems that arise in requirements prioritization and release planning. A Domain-Specific Language (DSL), called reqT/CSP, is presented that integrates constraints modeling with requirements modeling. The DSL is embedded in the object-functional Scala programming language. The DSL is demonstrated using principal examples of priority ranking and release planning. Benefits, limitations and future work are discussed

Designing smart markets

Electronic markets have been a core topic of information systems (IS) research for last three decades. We focus on a more recent phenomenon: smart markets. This phenomenon is starting to draw considerable interdisciplinary attention from the researchers in computer science, operations research, and economics communities. The objective of this commentary is to identify and outline fruitful research areas where IS researchers can provide valuable contributions. The idea of smart markets revolves around using theoretically supported computational tools to both understand the characteristics of complex trading environments and multiechelon markets and help human decision makers make real-time decisions in these complex environments. We outline the research opportunities for complex trading environments primarily from the perspective o

Proceedings of the ECCS 2005 satellite workshop: embracing complexity in design - Paris 17 November 2005

Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr). Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr)