On the Complexity of the General Channel Routing Problem in the Knock-Knee Mode

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratorySemiconductor Research Corporation / 84-06-04

The implications of knowledge management for the library and information professions

The present thesis attempts to describe the Knowledge Management (KM) field in terms of its relevance to the Library & Information Science (LIS) professions. The methodology employed was a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches including administration of a web-based survey and the conduct of in-depth interviews targeted at LIS professionals. The results emerging from the research revealed very positive feedback from the LIS community in regard to attitudes towards KM. Not only did LIS professionals consider KM to be a viable option but also, they saw positive implications for both individuals and the professions as a whole in terms of opportunities for new career options in KM. Their view of KM was broader than what would be encompassed by either librarianship or information management. This was clear from the breadth of their perspectives, which extended to the consideration of such aspects as intangibles and human capital. LIS professionals regard their skills as being relevant to the practice of KM. Although they believed that KM was essentially a management phenomenon, they also believed that it was a field in which LIS professionals should seek to extend their involvement. Evidence of such involvement reveals that LIS professionals in general, have been largely engaged in the information management side of KM. Although LIS professionals were making a contribution to the general level of KM, their involvement in more senior positions tended to be a matter of exception rather than of rule. Only 3.5 per cent of all respondents to the questionnaire were operating as leaders of KM. Interviewing knowledge managers from a LIS background revealed that a number of personal attributes may have been significant to the success of this transition. These included a facility in human networking, and an appreciation of the value of lifelong learning, along with ambition and a willingness to take risks. The possession of a non-LIS qualification along with their LIS qualification was also characteristic of people holding senior roles in KM. Although the LIS professionals agreed that libraries could make a strong case to be the launching point for KM initiatives, they did not support the argument that libraries should be the leaders of KM in their organizations. To some extent this has been a matter of competence, and also of the traditionally unflattering image of libraries. This has in some cases led to name changes and the reorganization of functions. Among the implications of these results for LIS professionals would be the need to extend their focus from one based on information objects to one based on people aspects, to adopt a holistic view of their organizations, and to increase their levels of business knowledge. The contribution of LIS professionals to KM potentially can be enhanced through developments in education for LIS. Extending the LIS curriculum to include business and management subjects and also the promotion of personal attributes, could not only equip LIS professionals with the necessary capabilities, but also could give them the confidence to apply these capabilities in the marketplace

A study of the stress wave factor technique for nondestructive evaluation of composite materials

The acousto-ultrasonic method of nondestructive evaluation is an extremely sensitive means of assessing material response. Efforts continue to complete the understanding of this method. In order to achieve the full sensitivity of the technique, extreme care must be taken in its performance. This report provides an update of the efforts to advance the understanding of this method and to increase its application to the nondestructive evaluation of composite materials. Included are descriptions of a novel optical system that is capable of measuring in-plane and out-of-plane displacements, an IBM PC-based data acquisition system, an extensive data analysis software package, the azimuthal variation of acousto-ultrasonic behavior in graphite/epoxy laminates, and preliminary examination of processing variation in graphite-aluminum tubes

Changes in postural and trunk muscles responses in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain during sudden upper limb loading

Background: Alterations in the neuromuscular control of the spine were found in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Sudden loading of the spine is assumed to be the cause of approximately 12 of lower back injuries. However, some aspects of this problem, such as alterations in the sensory-motor control of the spine, remain questionable. This study investigated postural and neuro- motor changes in trunk muscles during sudden upper limb loading in patients with CLBP. Methods: Electromyography of the erector spinae (ES) and transverses abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) and external oblique (EOA) muscles were recorded in 20 patients with CLBP and 20 asymptomatic individuals with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions. Moreover, measurements of the center of pressure (COP) and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) or Fz were recorded using a force plate. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test at the significance level of 0.05. Results: In patients with CLBP, decreased electrical activity of the ES muscle was observed under both the EO and EC conditions and that of the TrA/IO muscle was observed under the EO condition (p < 0.05). Other findings included a shorter peak latency of the ES muscle in the EO condition and a greater increase in the peak latency of the ES muscle following the EC condition (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in COP and GRF measurements between the groups. Conclusion: Electrical muscle activity may indicate less stiffening or preparatory muscle activity in the trunk muscle of patients with CLBP. Altered latency of the muscle may lead to microtrauma of lumbar structures and CLBP

A New Methodology for VLSI Layout

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratorySemiconductor Research Corporation / RSCH 84-06-049-

Multicultural, Virtual Work Places: Opportunities and Challenges for LIS Educato

The article discusses a trial undertaken in a LIS education program to help prepare students from different cultural backgrounds to work in virtual, multicultural work places.  The focus of the trial was developing teamwork, which may now involve global, multicultural and virtual components, for which students need to be prepared, given work place changes of recent years. The trial took place in a school of information studies at a large, multi-campus rural university in Australia.  The lecturer grouped students from an off-shore campus, with a different cultural background, with local students to work online on a group assignment. Evaluation involved an anonymous, web-based survey after all group assignments were completed. The survey explored the experiences of students regarding their group work in multicultural teams. The findings highlight the challenges of group work in fully online environments.  They include language and cultural diversity, time zone spread and lack of face-to-face communication.  Some of these challenges are likely to be replicated in the work place where multicultural team work is involved.  Some of these challenges are likely to be replicated in the work place where multicultural team work is involved.  Some suggestions to overcome these challenges are included at the end of the article

Compact Channel-Routing of Multiterminal Nets

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratorySemiconductor Research Corporation / 83-01-035National Science Foundation / MCS-81-0555

Recursive Gate-Arrays

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryJoint Services Electronics Program / N00014-84-C-0149National Science Foundation / MIP-8709074 and ECS-841090