Distributed interoperable workflow support for electronic commerce.

Abstract. This paper describes a flexible distributed transactional workflow environment based on an extensible object-oriented framework built around class libraries, application programming interfaces, and shared services. The purpose of this environment is to support a range of EC-like business activities including the support of financial transactions and electronic contracts. This environment has as its aim to provide key infrastructure services for mediating and monitoring electronic commerce.

Элементы геоморфологии никеленосной коры выветривания гипербазитов

Due to the astonishing development in memory and processing capabilities of hand held devices such as smart phones, it is not a dream anymore to enable mobile devices not only as conventional web service requesters but even as providers. The willingness and enthusiasm of service providers place abundant services at the disposal. But this abundance makes the efficiency of service discovery a critical issue. Centralized registries have severe drawbacks in such a scenario due to the dynamic and spontaneous nature of mobile peers. In the quest for a more appropriate approach for mobile web service discovery, we observed P2P to share very similar characteristics with behaviors of peers in mobile network. Hence we tried to find alternate mobile web service discovery mechanisms by using the features of the P2P networks like JXTA modules. The scalability analysis of the approach proves that the discovery can scale to the needs of large cellular networks

Distributed interoperable workflow support for electronic commerce

Abstract. This paper describes a flexible distributed transactional workflow environment based on an extensible object-oriented framework built around class libraries, application programming interfaces, and shared services. The purpose of this environment is to support a range of EC-like business activities including the support of financial transactions and electronic contracts. This environment has as its aim to provide key infrastructure services for mediating and monitoring electronic commerce.

Natural Language for Database Queries: A Laboratory Study

Technical feasibility and promise of practical use for querying databases in natural 1 anguage (for example, English) has been demonstrated by a large number of experimental systems, and the commercial availability of at 1 east one such system. Yet natural 1 anguage continues to be the most controversi al among the 1 anguage interfaces that have been proposed for direct interaction with databases. Most Natural Language Query Systems (NLGS) have focused on a certal n cl ass of users - appl icati on speci al 1 sts not requi red to possess technical skills - and have emphasized easy transportability to a variety of application domains. Based on these principles, and considering the limitations of state-of-the-art natural language processing, these NLGS have adopted particul ar design structures and goal s. Are these query systems meeti ng thei r design goal s? More importantly, are these the appropriate goals? These seem to be the major questions for which no concl usive answers have yet been given. Most experimental research in the area has addressed the first question. Fiel d studies alone are often hampered by implementation limitations, and of course, by the lack of a controlled environment. Thus, a negative answer to the first question, as is usually the case with prototype systems, makes the determination of an answer for the second question very difficult. A recently compl eted study at New York University constitutes a step toward resolving some of the issues pertaining to the use of natural language for database queries. The overall approach involves a. combi nation of expl oratory field evaluations with controlled laboratory studies to examine these issues by comparing performance between subjects using the formal database language SaL and subjects using a prototype natural language query system (NLaS) developed in the IBM Heidelberg Scientific Center. This paper describes in detail a laboratory study which was conducted as part of the project. In the 1 aboratory study, paid subjects were trai ned in the appl ication and the respective languages (SGL and NLOS) and then given an exam

Non-Uniformity of Pellets Coating, Effect on the Dose Release Profile andHow to Improve the Coating Process by Reducing the Electrostatic Charging of the Pellets

The aim of this work was to study the effect of several process parameters used during pellets coating in two wurster fluid beds of different scales on: a) the uniformity of pellets coating, and b) the presence of an initial burst in the release profile caused by the existence of a significant fraction of pellets having a very thin film coating. The pellets used in this work presented high insulating properties. The pellets were coated with extended release films made mainly of ethyl cellulose and it was shown that larger pellets had a thicker coating. The choice of the process parameters had a large effect on the amount of pellets that were subtracted from the coating process due to the buildup of electrostatic charges on the pellets. Using not too high fluidizing air flows, pellets of larger size, a smaller pellets load and humidified air to fluidize the pellets resulted in more uniform coatings and, consequently, in more favorable release profiles that did not present or presented a reduced initial burst release

Non-Uniformity of Pellets Coating, Effect on the Dose Release Profile andHow to Improve the Coating Process by Reducing the Electrostatic Charging of the Pellets

The aim of this work was to study the effect of several process parameters used during pellets coating in two wurster fluid beds of different scales on: a) the uniformity of pellets coating, and b) the presence of an initial burst in the release profile caused by the existence of a significant fraction of pellets having a very thin film coating. The pellets used in this work presented high insulating properties. The pellets were coated with extended release films made mainly of ethyl cellulose and it was shown that larger pellets had a thicker coating. The choice of the process parameters had a large effect on the amount of pellets that were subtracted from the coating process due to the buildup of electrostatic charges on the pellets. Using not too high fluidizing air flows, pellets of larger size, a smaller pellets load and humidified air to fluidize the pellets resulted in more uniform coatings and, consequently, in more favorable release profiles that did not present or presented a reduced initial burst release

A FIELD EVALUATION OF NATURAL LANGUAGE FOR DATA RETRIEVAL

Although a large number of natural language database interfaces have been developed, there have been few empirical studies of their practical usefulness. This paper presents the design and results of a field evaluation of a natural language system - NLS - used for data retrieval . A balanced, multifactorial design comparing NLS with a reference retrieval language, SQL, is described. The data are analyzed on two levels: work task (n=87) and query (n=1081). SQL performed better than NLS on a variety of measures, but NLS required less effort to use. Subjects performed much poorer than expected based on the results of laboratory studies. This finding is attributed to the complexity of the field setting and to optimism in grading laboratory experiments. The methodology developed for studying computer languages in real work settings was successful in consistently measuring differences in treatments over a variety of conditions.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Кризис экономики роста как системы: причины и следствия

Актуальность данной работы продиктована кризисным состоянием современной модели экономики. В основе этой модели лежат постулаты о необходимости постоянного роста экономики, который обеспечивается за счет конечного потребления. В обеспечение же реализации такой модели положены монетарные подходы и методы стимулирования потребительского спроса как основного драйвера экономического роста. Венцом данной модели стала долговая экономика потребления обществ индивидуалистов, не имеющих системы традиционных ценностей, а ориентирующихся на иллюзорные временные цели краткосрочного периода. Так, эгоцентрическая модель экономики заняла главенствующее положение по отношению к экологической модели экономики, обнажив массу системообразующих противоречий. Будущее оказалось под угрозой… Целью данной работы является анализ исходных причин этих противоречий, факторов возникновения кризисных явлений и угроз, с которыми столкнулось человечество на современном этапе развития, а также возможных альтернатив устранения этих противоречий и угроз. The relevance of this work is dictated by a critical state of the modern model of the economy. The basis of this model is construed by postulates about the need for sustained economic growth, which is provided by end-use. Monetary approaches and methods of consumer demand stimulation as a main incentive of economic growth guarantee the model implementation. On the top of this model there is a debt consumer economy of a society of individualists who do not have a system of traditional values, but instead have illusory short-term goals. Thus, an egocentric model of the economy has taken a dominant position in relation to an ecological economic model, revealing a lot of systemic contradictions. The future was under threat... The aim of this work is the analysis of the causes of these conflicts, the factors of crisis phenomena, the threats, which mankind faced at this stage of development, and the possible ways of elimination of the contradictions and threats as well. Methods: comparative analysis and synthesis of theoretical fundamental economic sources and assumptions, practical research and personal experience of various Russian and foreign scientists and business practitioners, the results, observations and conclusions arising from the personal experience of the author and his own theoretical research and inventions, and analysis of statistical data