Virtual Cost Engineering Studio (V-CES): a framework for Cost Engineering services

Cost has become a business driver. V-CES is a European Project aiming to develop and deploy a set of services to the Cost Engineering Community: Training, a Cost Engineering Virtual Community, a Cost Estimating Tool, and a Cost Engineering Database. The access to such services will be done via Internet and a Web browser. This implies the possibility for the cost professionals of exercising a just-in time training, estimating and consulting related to their work. The use of these services implies interactions of the kind client-server and peer-to-peer, and their implementation demands the use of different software technologies, being the main ones: Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), database, multi-agent toolkit, and reasoning engine. This paper presents the technological definition of the framework to be used for the over all development and implementation

Interveners or Interferers: Intervention in Decisions to Withhold and Withdraw Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment

This article considers intervention in proceedings about withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment. Since the early 1990s, there have been a number of important decisions, both in Australia and overseas, about whether life-sustaining treatment should be withheld or withdrawn from an adult who no longer has capacity to make the decision for himself or herself. In almost all of these decisions, intervention by a non-party to the matter has been an issue. This article explores the rules of intervention in applications to appear as a party and as amicus curiae, and considers those rules in the context of decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment. The relevant cases are examined as are the advantages and disadvantages of intervention in these circumstances. The article concludes by suggesting a model for intervention that strikes the appropriate balance between ensuring all relevant issues are placed before the court while still respecting the intensely private nature of a decision to withhold or withdraw a life-sustaining measure in any given case

Interpolation of Ces{\`a}ro sequence and function spaces

The interpolation property of Ces{\`a}ro sequence and function spaces is investigated. It is shown that $Ces_p(I)$ is an interpolation space between $Ces_{p_0}(I)$ and $Ces_{p_1}(I)$ for $1 < p_0 < p_1 \leq \infty$ and $1/p = (1 - \theta)/p_0 + \theta /p_1$ with $0 < \theta < 1$, where $I = [0, \infty)$ or $[0, 1]$. The same result is true for Ces{\`a}ro sequence spaces. On the other hand, $Ces_p[0, 1]$ is not an interpolation space between $Ces_1[0, 1]$ and $Ces_{\infty}[0, 1]$.Comment: 28 page

A Methodology for Variability Reduction in Manufacturing Cost Estimating in the Automotive Industry based on Design Features

Organised by: Cranfield UniversitySmall to medium manufacturing companies are coming to realise the increasing importance of performing fast and accurate cost estimates at the early stages of projects to address customers’ requests for quotation. However, they cannot afford the implementation of a knowledge-based cost estimating software. This paper explains the development and validation of a consistent methodology for the cost estimating of manufactured parts (focused on pistons) based on the design features. The research enabled the identification of the sources of variability in cost estimates, and the main one is the lack of formal procedures for the cost estimates in manufacturing SMEs. Finally, a software prototype was developed that reduces the variability in the cost estimates by defining a formal procedure, following the most appropriate cost estimating techniques.Mori Seiki – The Machine Tool Compan

Microfluidic generation of networked droplet collections and lipid membrane constructs

We report on microfluidic strategies to generate several multi-compartment membrane-based structures, including droplet interface bilayer networks and multi-compartment vesicles. These developments allow the current status quo— where microdroplets are used as isolated vessels— to be changed. By linking droplets together with lipid membranes, higher order systems can be generated, with particular ramifications for bottom-up synthetic biology and for functional droplet-based microreactors and biodevices

Comparative Analysis among DSP and FPGA-based Control Capabilities in PWM Power Converters

PWM power converters are close to be mature for standard diffusion. New FPGA technologies could now realise at best the digital control key-points: flexible performance and time to market. The paper deals with the new digital control properties of FPGA-based techniques. On the basis of reference structures, a comparative analysis is carried-out trading-off dynamic performances and immunity to PWM environment. All possible sampled control or DSP techniques are firstly analysed and compared to each other. A breakthrough concept for FPGAs is defined, definitely solving for PWM feedback immunity by practical over-sampling and parallel processing while improving dynamic performances. Simulation tests and the application of dead-beat control clearly point-out the respective dynamic properties

Current results of an arachnological survey of some sandstone rock sites in Bohemia (so-called "rock cities")

Current results of an arachnological survey of some sandstone rock sites in Bohemia (so called 'rock cities'). The spider fauna of the Adrspach·Tepllce rocks was investigated. Some records on spider fauna of other nine sandstone rock areas are included. The phenomenon of 'rock cities' manifests itself in three aspects: (1) In the bottom parts are microclimatically cold spaces, frequently hosting northern or mountain species of invertebrates, which here have an azonal occurrence. (2) The sun exposed tops of rocks can host thermophilous species. (3) Some species are limited to the surface of rocks and boulders. These are referred to as lithophilous or lithobiont species

Design and development of a high power, low saturation voltage, multi-chip silicon switching transistor Final progress report, period ending 19 Feb. 1970

Mechanical design modifications, processing, and test data for high power, low saturation voltage, multi-chip silicon switching transisto

Spartan Daily, February 2, 1954

Volume 42, Issue 77https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/11972/thumbnail.jp