Computer algebra and operators

The symbolic computation of operator expansions is discussed. Some of the capabilities that prove useful when performing computer algebra computations involving operators are considered. These capabilities may be broadly divided into three areas: the algebraic manipulation of expressions from the algebra generated by operators; the algebraic manipulation of the actions of the operators upon other mathematical objects; and the development of appropriate normal forms and simplification algorithms for operators and their actions. Brief descriptions are given of the computer algebra computations that arise when working with various operators and their actions

Health-Seeking Behavior, Health-Risk Awareness and Emotional Wellbeing among Adolescents in Makurdi metropolis

This study investigated health-seeking behavior, health-risk awareness and emotional wellbeing among adolescents in Makurdi metropolis. Cross-sectional survey design was used where 274 adolescents in Makurdi metropolis comprising of 126(45.9%) males and 148 (54.1%) females were used. Their ages ranged from 12-22years with a mean age of 17.54years (SD=3.78). Convenience sampling was used for drawing the sample while Health Seeking Behaviour Scale, Health Risk Attitude Scale and the Emotional Wellbeing scale were used for data collection. Simple Linear regression and Standard Multiple Regression were used to test the study hypotheses. Results indicated that there was a significant influence of health seeking behaviour on emotional wellbeing among adolescents. In addition, there was a significant influence of health risk awareness on emotional wellbeing among adolescents. Lastly, there was a significant influence of health seeking behaviour and health risk awareness on emotional wellbeing among adolescents. It was recommended that, that adolescents should make efforts to seek the use of health services immediately they notice signs and symptoms of any ailments. This will ensure that they are physically and emotionally stable. Secondly, adolescents should be given education on some of the major diseases, lifestyles and youthful behaviours that may affect their health negatively. This will enlighten them on the benefits and risks associated with their lifestyles

Highly Scalable Multiplication for Distributed Sparse Multivariate Polynomials on Many-core Systems

We present a highly scalable algorithm for multiplying sparse multivariate polynomials represented in a distributed format. This algo- rithm targets not only the shared memory multicore computers, but also computers clusters or specialized hardware attached to a host computer, such as graphics processing units or many-core coprocessors. The scal- ability on the large number of cores is ensured by the lacks of synchro- nizations, locks and false-sharing during the main parallel step.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Opening practice: Supporting Reproducibility and Critical Spatial Data Science

This paper reflects on a number of trends towards a more open and reproducible approach to geographic and spatial data science over recent years. In particular, it considers trends towards Big Data, and the impacts this is having on spatial data analysis and modelling. It identifies a turn in academia towards coding as a core analytic tool, and away from proprietary software tools offering ‘black boxes’ where the internal workings of the analysis are not revealed. It is argued that this closed form software is problematic and considers a number of ways in which issues identified in spatial data analysis (such as the MAUP) could be overlooked when working with closed tools, leading to problems of interpretation and possibly inappropriate actions and policies based on these. In addition, this paper considers the role that reproducible and open spatial science may play in such an approach, taking into account the issues raised. It highlights the dangers of failing to account for the geographical properties of data, now that all data are spatial (they are collected somewhere), the problems of a desire for n = all observations in data science and it identifies the need for a critical approach. This is one in which openness, transparency, sharing and reproducibility provide a mantra for defensible and robust spatial data science

Software Fault Prevention by Language Choice: Why C is Not My Favorite Language

How much does the choice of a programming language influence the prevalence of bugs in the resulting code? It seems obvious that at the level at which individuals write new programs, a change of language can eliminate whole classes of errors, or make them possible. With few exceptions, recent literature on the engineering of large software systems seems to neglect language choice as a factor in overall quality metrics. As a point of comparison we review some interesting recent work which implicitly assumes a program must be written in C. We speculate on how reliability might be a#ected by changing the language, in particular if we were to use ANSI Common Lisp. 1 Introduction and Background In a recent paper, W. D. Yu [6] describes the kinds of errors committed by coders working on Lucent Technologies advanced 5ESS switching system. This system's reliability is now dependent on the correct functioning of several million lines of source code. 1 Yu not only categorizes the error..

Comparing the Speed of Programs for Sparse Polynomial Multiplication

How should one program the multiplication of sparse polynomials? This is a simple question complicated by the details. We start with a single easily stated computation which we believe represents a useful midpoint benchmark for computer algebra systems (CAS)

Software fault prevention by language choice: why C is not my favorite language. http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~fateman/software.pdf

How much does the choice of a programming language influence the prevalence of bugs in the resulting code? It seems obvious that at the level at which individuals write new programs, a change of language can eliminate whole classes of errors, or make them possible. With few exceptions, recent literature on the engineering of large software systems seems to neglect language choice as a factor in overall quality metrics. As a point of comparison we review some interesting recent work which implicitly assumes a program must be written in C. We speculate on how reliability might be affected by changing the language, in particular if we were to use ANSI Common Lisp.