Development of Computer Science Disciplines - A Social Network Analysis Approach

In contrast to many other scientific disciplines, computer science considers conference publications. Conferences have the advantage of providing fast publication of papers and of bringing researchers together to present and discuss the paper with peers. Previous work on knowledge mapping focused on the map of all sciences or a particular domain based on ISI published JCR (Journal Citation Report). Although this data covers most of important journals, it lacks computer science conference and workshop proceedings. That results in an imprecise and incomplete analysis of the computer science knowledge. This paper presents an analysis on the computer science knowledge network constructed from all types of publications, aiming at providing a complete view of computer science research. Based on the combination of two important digital libraries (DBLP and CiteSeerX), we study the knowledge network created at journal/conference level using citation linkage, to identify the development of sub-disciplines. We investigate the collaborative and citation behavior of journals/conferences by analyzing the properties of their co-authorship and citation subgraphs. The paper draws several important conclusions. First, conferences constitute social structures that shape the computer science knowledge. Second, computer science is becoming more interdisciplinary. Third, experts are the key success factor for sustainability of journals/conferences

A Mediation Framework for Mobile Web Service Provisioning

Web Services and mobile data services are the newest trends in information systems engineering in wired and wireless domains, respectively. Web Services have a broad range of service distributions while mobile phones have large and expanding user base. To address the confluence of Web Services and pervasive mobile devices and communication environments, a basic mobile Web Service provider was developed for smart phones. The performance of this Mobile Host was also analyzed in detail. Further analysis of the Mobile Host to provide proper QoS and to check Mobile Host's feasibility in the P2P networks, identified the necessity of a mediation framework. The paper describes the research conducted with the Mobile Host, identifies the tasks of the mediation framework and then discusses the feasible realization details of such a mobile Web Services mediation framework.Comment: Proceedings of 2006 Middleware for Web Services (MWS 2006) Workshop @ 10th International IEEE EDOC Conference "The Enterprise Computing Conference", October 16, 2006, pp. 14-17. IEEE Computer Societ

Investigation of space radiation effects in polymeric film-forming materials

The literature search in the field of ultraviolet radiation effects that was conducted during the previous program, Contract No. NAS1-12549, has been expanded to include the effects of charged particle radiation and high energy electromagnetic radiation. The literature from 1958 to 1969 was searched manually, while the literature from 1969 to present was searched by using a computerized keyword system. The information generated from this search was utilized for the design of an experimental program aimed at the development of materials with improved resistance to the vacuum-radiation environment of space. Preliminary irradiation experiments were performed which indicate that the approaches and criteria employed are very promising and may provide a solution to the challenging problem of polymer stability to combined ultraviolet/high energy radiation

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND NEGOTIATION SUPPORT IN MULTIPERSON DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS

A number of DSS for supporting decisions by more than one person have been proposed. These can be categorized by spatial distance (local vs. remote), temporal distance (meeting vs. mailing), commonality of goals (cooperation vs. bargaining), and control (democratic vs. hierarchical). Existing frameworks for model management in single-user DSS seem insufficient for such systems. This paper views multiperson DSS as a loosely coupled system of model and data bases which may be human (the DSS builders and users) or computerized. The systems components have different knowledge bases and may have different interests. Their interaction is characterized by knowledge sharing for uncertainty reduction and cooperative problem-solving, and negotiation for view integration, consensus-seeking, and compromise. Requirements for the different types of multiperson DSS can be formalized as application-level communications protocols. Based on a literature review and recent experience with a number of multiperson DSS prototypes, artificial intelligence-based message-passing protocols are compared with database-centered approaches and model-based techniques, such as multicriteria decision making.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

EXTERNAL SEMANTIC QUERY SIMPLIFICATION: A GRAPH-THEORETIC APPROACH AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN PROLOG

Semantic query simplification utilizes integrity constraints enforced in a database system for reducing the number of tuple variables and terms in a relational calculus query. To a large degree, this can be done by a system that is external to the DBMS. The paper advocates the application of database theory in such a system and describes a working prototype of an external semantic query simplifier implemented in Prolog. The system employs a graph-theoretic approach to integrate tableau techniques and algorithms for the syntactic simplification of queries containing inequality conditions. The use of integrity constraints is shown not only to improve efficiency but also to permit more meaningful error messages to be generated, particularly in the case of an empty query result. The paper concludes with outlining an extension to the multi-user case.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

A FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION OF HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES

A cost-effectiveness method for evaluating measures against hospital-aquired infections is based on a network interdiction model. Algorithms for optimal interdiction of the infection network are presented and their applicability is discussed. Implications of the approach for classifying measures, allocating costs and benefits, and analyzing the costs of infections are described. The method is being applied in an interdisciplinary study conducted in several West German hospitals.Information Systems Working Papers Serie