The Metric-FF Planning System: Translating "Ignoring Delete Lists" to Numeric State Variables

Planning with numeric state variables has been a challenge for many years, and was a part of the 3rd International Planning Competition (IPC-3). Currently one of the most popular and successful algorithmic techniques in STRIPS planning is to guide search by a heuristic function, where the heuristic is based on relaxing the planning task by ignoring the delete lists of the available actions. We present a natural extension of ``ignoring delete lists'' to numeric state variables, preserving the relevant theoretical properties of the STRIPS relaxation under the condition that the numeric task at hand is ``monotonic''. We then identify a subset of the numeric IPC-3 competition language, ``linear tasks'', where monotonicity can be achieved by pre-processing. Based on that, we extend the algorithms used in the heuristic planning system FF to linear tasks. The resulting system Metric-FF is, according to the IPC-3 results which we discuss, one of the two currently most efficient numeric planners

The mirror within: An art therapy research project identifying the links between anorexia nervosa, object relations and the potential role of art as the transitional object

This research focuses on the use of art therapy with female teenage clients suffering from anorexia nervosa. The aim was to undertake a pilot study that would establish whether art therapy could assist in identifying anorexic clients\u27 ego boundary delineations using an object relations framework (That is, either enmeshed, inter related or isolated). Utilising Elkisch\u27s picture analysis procedure, client art works were analysed by contrasting positive and negative characteristics as a way of gaining insight into the client\u27s boundary delineation cognition. Five female subjects aged between thirteen and sixteen, who were taking part in the eating disorders program, located in a large teaching hospital in Western Australia, took part in one hour group art therapy sessions, that were held over a three week period. Paralleling this process, a group made up of a similarly demographic population, deemed to be non anorexic took part in an identical art therapy program. Their an works were used as a means of comparison for this thesis. This study attempted to answer the question Can art therapy be used as the measure for determining difference between the art works of the female teenage clients with anorexia from the art works that the female teenagers without anorexia when viewed within an object relations framework

Modeling and evaluating information leakage caused by inferences in supply chains

While information sharing can benefit supply chains significantly, it may also have a "side effect", namely, information leakage. A limitation common to many existing solutions for preventing information leakage in supply chains is that they rely, either implicitly or explicitly, upon two unrealistic assumptions. First, what information is confidential is well known. Second, confidential information will not be revealed, if only it is not shared, regardless of how much other information is being shared. As it shall be shown in this thesis, those assumptions are not always true due to potential information leakage caused by inferences. Specifically, a conceptual model of such information leakage is proposed in this thesis. The model will enable companies in a supply chain to better understand how their confidential information may be leaked through inferences. On the basis of the proposed conceptual model, a quantitative approach is devised to evaluate the risk of information leakage caused by inferences when a given amount of information is shared. The quantitative approach will allow companies in a supply chain to measure and consequently to mitigate the risk of information leakage. Finally, a case study is discussed to illustrate how the proposed approaches work in practice

Annual reports of the town officers of Marlboro, N.H. for the year ending December 31, 1944.

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire

Montana Kaimin, April 22, 1977

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/7668/thumbnail.jp

Modelling business processes with links to ISO 9001

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/795 on 14.02.2017 by CS (TIS)This work in the domain of quality management and business process design looks at how the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard for quality management systems are designed and implemented in business. It is the aim of the research reported in this thesis to support manufacturing companies when modelling a Fulfil Order Process by identifying the links to the ISO 9001 quality standard and highlighting potential impact from any changes in the process or the standard during a redesign project. It does so by presenting a modelling technique, named IDEF9000, which will enable companies to take a systemic perspective of a Fulfil Order Process identifying all relevant links to ISO 9001. A research strategy based around the experiences of companies when designing business processes with links to ISO 9001 was adopted. In-depth case studies carried out by the author showed that simply documenting what an organisation does to satisfy the various elements of ISO 9001 is still one of the most common approaches adopted. This results in a process-oriented character only at the documentation stage. It is the result of limited guidance on how to integrate the requirements of ISO 900 I in business processes. The work proceeded by exploring the domains of business processes, the use of systems thinking to explain business processes and the relevance of ISO 9001 requirements from a process-based viewpoint. A set of criteria was developed to identify activities, information and other flows controlled by ISO 9001 to design a Fulfil Order Process in a manufacturing company. This provided the context for the development of the modelling technique IDEF9000, which is an enhanced version of IDEFo, and its validation by review and by use in two manufacturing companies. The originality of this work lies in the identification and emphasis by the author of the need to take a systemic view of business processes when designing or redesigning a process-based ISO 9001 quality management system. Also, criteria for a technique to address the modelling of a Fulfil Order Process were identified. Furthermore this contribution to knowledge includes the identification of links between ISO 9001 requirements and a holistic Fulfil Order Process. This led to the development of further criteria for modelling such a business process showing the links to ISO 9001. IDEF9000 represents an improved modelling approach that fulfils the identified criteria and permits the systemic design or redesign of a Fulfil Order Process while establishing the links controlled by the ISO 9001 quality standard

Montana Kaimin, April 22, 1977

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/7668/thumbnail.jp

1934 Modulus

1934 Yearbook for Rose Polytechnic Institute Terre Haute, IN 47803https://scholar.rose-hulman.edu/modulus/1019/thumbnail.jp