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The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) commissioned the papers in this publication to address advances in measuring education inflation and adjusting for it, as well as to examine the emergence of a new focus on school spending, rather than school district spending, as well as new, private sources of funding for public education, and a review of the status of assessing educational productivity. The first two papers continue the NCES tradition of commissioning papers to address the measurement problems of the education finance research community. The other papers examine the relationship between school district and school spending, and private sources of funding public education, of which surprisingly little is known. The final paper examines the existing attempts to estimate the cost of educational outcomes, and the implications for policymakers and researchers. Following an Introduction and Overview by William J. Fowler, Jr., papers included, in order, are: (1) Adjusting for Differences in the Costs of Educational Inputs (Eric A. Hanushek); (2) An Alternative Measure of Inflation in Teacher Salaries (Dan Goldhaber); (3) School Districts and Spending in the Schools (Amy Ellen Schwartz); (4) New Revenues for Public Schools: Alternatives to Broad-Based Taxes (Michael F. Addonizio); and (5) Modern Education Productivity Research: Emerging Implications for the Financing of Education (David H. Monk and Jennifer King Rice). (Individual papers contain references.)

These proceedings contain the papers of the 15th International Conference on e-Learning (EL 2021), which was organised by the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS), July 20-22, 2021. This conference is part of the 15th Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (MCCSIS), July 20-23, 2021, which had a total of 456 submissions. Due to an exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the conference was hosted virtually. The e-Learning (EL) 2021 conference aims to address the main issues of concern within e-Learning. This conference covers both technical as well as the non-technical aspects of e-Learning. The conference accepted submissions in the following seven main areas: (1) Organisational Strategy and Management Issues; (2) Technological Issues; (3) e-Learning Curriculum Development Issues; (4) Instructional Design Issues; (5) e-Learning Delivery Issues; (6) e-Learning Research Methods and Approaches; and (7) e-Skills and Information Literacy for Learning. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

"Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences" includes full papers presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES), which took place on July 15-19, 2020, in Washington, D.C. The aim of the conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, to discuss theoretical and practical issues, and to connect with the leaders in the fields of "humanities," "education," and "social sciences." The conference is organized annually by the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES). The iHSES invites submissions which address the theory, research, or applications in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences. The iHSES is organized for: (1) faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences; (2) graduate students; (3) K-12 administrators; (4) teachers; (5) principals; and (6) all interested in education and social sciences. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

This volume contains papers submitted to the 12th Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), held in Sofia and Nessebar, Bulgaria, in June 2014, and papers submitted to the 2nd International Partner Conference, organized by the International Research Centre 'Scientific Cooperation,' Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The volume also includes papers submitted to the International Symposium on Comparative Sciences, organized by the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society in Sofia, in October 2013. The 12th BCES Conference theme is "Education's Role in Preparing Globally Competent Citizens." The 2nd Partner Conference theme is "Contemporary Science and Education: New Challenges -- New Decisions." The book consists of 103 papers, written by 167 authors and co-authors, and grouped into 7 parts. Parts 1-4 comprise papers submitted to the 12th BCES Conference, and Parts 5-7 comprise papers submitted to the 2nd Partner Conference. The 103 papers are divided into the following parts: (1) Comparative Education & History of Education; (2) Pre-service and In-service Teacher Training & Learning and Teaching Styles; (3) Education Policy, Reforms and School Leadership; (4) Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Social Inclusion; (5) Educational Development Strategies in Different Countries and Regions of the World: National, Regional and Global Levels; (6) Key Directions and Characteristics of Research Organization in Contemporary World; and (7) International Scientific and Educational Cooperation for the Solution of Contemporary Global Issues: From Global Competition to World Integration.

The 14 chapters of this book focus on the technical advances, advances in applied settings, and emerging topics in the testing field. Part 1 discusses methodological advances, Part 2 considers developments in applied settings, and Part 3 reviews emerging topics in the field of testing. Part 1 papers include: (1) "Advances in Criterion-Referenced Measurement" (R. K. Hambleton and H. J. Rogers); (2) "Generalizability Theory" (D. N. M. de Gruijter and L. J. T. van der Kamp); (3) "Item Response Theory" (D. J. Weiss and M. E. Yoes); (4) "Analysis of Covariance Structures" (H. Swaminathan); (5) "Applications of Decision Theory to Test-Based Decision Making" (W. J. van der Linden); and (6) "Meta-Analysis" (J. E. Hunter and F. L. Schmidt). Part 2 papers include: (7) "Developments in Personnel Selection Methodology" (R. A. Roe and M. A. M. Greuter); (8) "Assessment Centers at the Dutch Central Government" (J. N. Zaal); (9) "Current Perspectives in the Assessment of the Handicapped" (S. Scarpati); (10) "Testing across Cultures" (F. J. R. van de Vijver and Y. P. Poortinga); and (11) "Reflections on Large-Scale Assessments of Student Achievement" (K. MacRury and others). Part 3 papers include: (12) "Computerized Adaptive Testing: Theory, Applications, and Standards" (R. K. Hambleton and others); (13) "Cognitive Theory and Psychometrics" R. J. Sternberg); and (14) "The Evolution of Ethical and Technical Standards for Testing" (W. Haney and G. Madaus). Chapter abstracts, biographical sketches of the contributing authors, and an index are included. (SLD)

Three separate papers are included in this report. The first describes a two-stage procedure for choosing from among several instructional programs the one which maximizes the probability of passing the test. The second gives the exact sample sizes required to determine whether a squared multiple correlation coefficient is above or below a known constant, rather than testing the null hypothesis. The results reported here also give a lower bound to the probability of making a correct decision when observations are available. The third paper proposes a rescaling of the Bayes risk. The motivation for this new coefficient was to provide an index that has a large value when the Bayes risk is small, and that has a value in the closed interval between zero and one. (Author/BW)

The concept of a generalized theory of population dynamics is probably premature and may even be illusory. The 'overfishing problem' has its roots in the economic organization of the industry. The century since the Norwegian government had hired G. O. Sars to investigate the fluctuations in the Lofoten Island cod fishery saw the development of many national and several international fishery research programs. Although these were too frequently focused on the needs for immediate answers to short-term management problems, many of the programs produced fundamental insights into the effects of fishing on marine fish and mammal populations. These insights were primarily in the area that Kyle in his 1905 analysis of overfishing termed ‘the problem of the decrease of fish.’ This problem, which Kyle had argued ‘can be solved if certain factors are known,’ was in fact solved in three different ways by the early 1950s, as described in chapters 7, 8, and 9. In 1954, three papers elaborating these three partial theories were published. Schaefer (1954a) defined the surplus production theory with his application of the logistic equation to the California sardine fishery in his paper ‘Some aspects of the dynamics of populations important to the management of the commercial marine fisheries.’ Ricker (1954) defined the spawner and recruit theory, using data from populations of herring, haddock, salmon, starfish, and fruit flies in his paper ‘Stock and recruitment.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the reality of the Chinese college education informatization development and the relying on the national informatization index system. This paper designs the university informatization evaluation index system and establish mathematical evaluation model by using principal component analysis method. This model quantitatively measure university informatization development level in order to provide necessary information and decision for establishing university education development strategy and policy. Finally, it shows that the university informatization evaluation index system has got a good result when it is used in practice of College Education Informatization Evaluation through questionnaire investigation and expert consultation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The logistics of spare parts shows the characteristics of dynamics. We establish a support system based on demand-pull model. This paper analyses the feedback control mechanism of the system and the mathematical principles of the dynamics of the supply–demand model of spare parts based on system dynamics. Then we build a system state model, analyzing the dynamic actions of the support system. Our study shows that: (1) Excessive logistics delay may affect the stability of the system; (2) The stability and performance of the support system of spare parts based on the ˵demand-pull″ model are closely related to the supply chain management system and technical conditions, also depend on the interactions of multiple factors. Then we get the value threshold of the key parameters to make the system stable, and test the impacts of logistics delay on the stability of the system. Finally, through system dynamics simulation, we optimize the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At macroscopic level, traffic can be described as a continuum flow. Lighthill Witham and Richards (LWR) have developed a traffic flow model based on the fluid dynamics continuity equation, which is known as the first order LWR traffic flow model. The resulting first order partial differential equation (PDE) can be analytically solved for some special cases, given initial and boundary conditions, and numerically using for example the finite element method (FEM). This paper makes use of the Galerkin FEM to solve the LWR model with constant speed. The road is divided into a number of road segments (elements) using the Galerkin FEM. Each element consists of two nodes. Each node has one degree of freedom (d.o.f.), namely the traffic density. The FEM provides a solution for the degrees of freedom, i.e. traffic densities of each node. The resulting simultaneous equations are solved at different time steps using the Euler backward time-integration algorithm. In Belgium and also in the Netherlands, there is a special technique that can be used in order to prevent traffic jams and increasing safety in situations with high volume of cars on the roads, i.e. block driving. It is a technique where cars drive in groups by order of the police when the roads are crowded. In this paper block driving is used as a practical example of the LWR model with constant speed. Thereby, it is simulated using the Galerkin FEM and the results are compared with the analytical solution. The FEM gives good results providing that: the road segments and time steps are small enough. A road with length 5000 m, constant speed of 25 m/s, segment length of 100 m and time steps of 1 s gives good results for the studied case. At points of traffic density rate discontinuities, depending on the road segment size and time step size, the Galerkin FEM is accurate and requires reasonable computational effort. From the research work carried out in this paper, it is found that the Galerkin FEM is suitable for modelling traffic flow at macroscopic level. The element size and time step size are important parameters in determining the convergence of the solution in case of discontinuities in traffic density rate. Although this paper considers the case of constant speed, the technique can be extended in the future to include the case of non-constant speed, i.e. speed as a function of traffic density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations regardless of their size are facing increasing competition from global markets. Quality engineering (QE) tools and techniques are a cornerstone of continuous improvement. They have both specialist and universal applications. If they are not used in a systematic manner, quality improvements are likely to be random and spontaneous rather than comprehensive. The need for an improved understanding of the critical factors for effective and successful QE implementation is becoming more important. However it is the variety and by their nature complexity, that often can create difficulties in their selection, application and effective use. This paper is exploratory paper which explores automotive industries expert's opinion in Malaysia and Indonesia to investigate the difficulties associated with the use of QE tools and techniques, critical factors for effective QE practices and specific issues related to QE implementation. For the purpose, the Delphic Hierarchy Process (DHP) approach was employed as the methodology to evaluate the critical success factors for effective and successful implementation of QE tools and techniques in Malaysian's and Indonesian's automotive industries. As a result from exploratory study, a conceptual model using DHP approach is established. The DHP approach is a combination of the Delphi method and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The DHP can benefit from both a strong and widely used Delphi method and a powerful mathematical model, the AHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a semantic space segmentation method for content-based image retrieval using the SVM decision boundary and principal axis analysis. Each object in an image has its activity scope, which conforms to semantic concept invariance. To find the maximum and fair activity scope for every object in an image in the best way is to discriminate the hidden semantic differences. A special property of SVM is known as maximum margin classifier, which simultaneously minimizes the empirical classification error and maximize the geometric margin. In this paper, the hidden semantic concepts based on the low-level features of region (object) will be found by using the Expectation-Maximization (EM) technique. The activity scope of each object and support vector will be decided by the SVM decision boundary and principal axis analysis which is used to construct a hyper-plane projection line with minimum inertia. Furthermore, a similarity measure, by integrating the high-level semantic distance and low-level features, is used to retrieve images. The proposed semantic learning scheme provides a way to bridge the gap between the high-level semantic concept and low-level features for content-based image retrieval. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed method is excellent when compared with that of other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Games are a complex mathematical structure for modeling dynamic decision processes under competition where opponent players compete for the maximum gain or toward a success state in the same environment according to the same rules of the game. Games are conventionally dealt with payoff tables based on random strategies, which are found inadequate to describe the dynamic behaviors of games and to rigorously predict the outcomes of games. This paper presents an abstract game theory, which enables a formal treatment of games by a set of mathematical models for both the layouts and behaviors of games. A generic mathematical model of abstract games is introduced, based on which the properties of games in terms of decision strategies and serial matches are described. A wide range of generic zero-sum and nonzero-sum games are formally modeled and analyzed using the generic mathematical models of abstract games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on the laws and mathematical constraints of software have resulted in fundamental discoveries in computing and software engineering toward exploring the nature of software. It was recognized that software is not constrained by any physical laws discovered in the natural world. However, software obeys the laws of mathematics, cognitive informatics, system science, and formal linguistics. This paper investigates into the mathematical laws of software and computing behaviors. A generic mathematical model of programs is created that reveals the nature of software as abstract processes and its uniqueness beyond other mathematical entities such as sets, relations, functions, and abstract concepts. A comprehensive set of mathematical laws for software and its behaviors is established based on the generic mathematical model of programs and the fundamental computing behaviors elicited in Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA). A set of 95 algebraic laws of software behaviors is systematically derived, which encompasses the laws of meta-processes, process relations, and system compositions. The comprehensive set of mathematical laws of software lays a theoretical foundation for analyzing and modeling software behaviors and software system architectures, as well as for guiding rigorous practice in programming. They are also widely applicable for the rigorous modeling and manipulation of human cognitive processes and computational intelligent behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a simplified mathematical model for a scroll-type air motor. Through air power/energy analysis, it has shown that a scroll-type air motor with a properly specified structure and suitable pressure of compressed air supply is able to achieve high energy efficiency and satisfies air power requirement. The features of a scroll-type air motor in geometry, mechanical structure, and pneumatic power transmission are studied in the paper. Differential geometry is used as the mathematical tool to parameterise the scroll. In this study, Matlab Symbolic Math Toolbox is found very efficient in finding analytic expressions of scroll chamber volumes and generalised torques. State shifting is employed to solve the dynamic system equations numerically. Energy efficiency of a scroll-type air motor is analysed based on the mathematical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the limitation of Principal Components Analysis in dealing with the nonlinear data, connecting with the Linear Programming Techniques for Multidimensional Analysis of Preference, this paper presents the Kernel Principal Components Analysis-Linear Programming Techniques for Multidimensional Analysis of Preference evaluation model. Kernel function maps linear inseparable input data into a high dimensional linear separable feature space via a nonlinear mapping technique. Then it carries on the linear principal components analysis in the high dimensional feature space. In addition, the weight of each index can be obtained in this model, thus it makes up another shortage of Principal Components Analysis. In the wastewater evaluation, the indices are numerous and the degree of correlation is not high, therefore, this model is more appropriate. Finally, this paper applies the model to the wastewater evaluation in Shanghai, and we obtain better evaluation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gear shaving is commonly used as a finishing process for gear manufacturing. The parameters of the shaving machine will influence the precision of the shaved gear tooth profile significantly. This paper develops the mathematical model of the shaved gear with crowning taking into account the setting parameters of the gear shaving machine. The additional rotation angle is also set up when the shaving cutter moves along the axis of work piece. The shaved gear's tooth contact analysis is also studied. The results shown in this paper can be beneficial to the engineers in the industry of gear manufacture and control of a gear shaving machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An algorithm for the calculation of the sequential parameters in the aircraft electrical system is designed in this paper. The original calculation model of the sequential component calculation is given as a complex formula which is inconvenient for the general digital programmable computation. The geometrical algorithm is presented in this paper in which the voltage vectors rotate and project to the coordinate axis to simplify the calculation. The projections on x and y coordinates may add up in algebra way, and only one projection is left on each axis. Then synthesize the two components to obtain the required sequential voltage vector. This algorithm may be used in the program design by ordinary programming languages in the fault diagnostics and protection to the electrical system. The asymmetry calculation by hand is also made possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years the semi-infinite programming became one of the most substantial research topics in the field of operations research. The goal of this paper is to make more familiar to a broader class of mathematicians, economists and engineers the idea of what is a semi-infinite programming problem and how it can be applied to the modelling and solution of real-life problems from economics, finance and engineering. Several examples illustrate the characteristic geometric features of this class of problems as well as their consequences for the use of solution methods. Then, the paper refers to applications which are modelled as semi-infinite programming problems: a control problem, a Stackelberg game, a portfolio problem, a robust optimization problem and a technical trading system for future contracts. Finally, conclusions and open questions are discussed and a special bibliography on applications of semi-infinite programming is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first practical lesson of our enquiry: that precise formulation of the problem for the North Sea plaice confirms what so many … deliberations have frequently stated, namely that there is ample room for improvement in the plaice fishery. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) did not meet during the Second World War but, as Maurice had anticipated in 1938, it was kept alive in no small part by the strong hand of President Hjort (see chapter 6). Following the tense 1939 meeting in Berlin, Hjort called an emergency meeting of the ‘senior delegates’ from Denmark and Sweden to discuss the future of ICES (Went 1972b p. 94). Acting with the support of those discussions, Hjort encouraged the staff in Copenhagen to continue the work of ICES throughout the war. Not only would a report on administrative matters be completed, but also several scientific reports that had been in preparation were published. Importantly, the plans to create a new publication that had been made during the Berlin meeting were carried forward, with the first number of Annales biologiques appearing in October 1943. Designed by Russell to record ‘all results of importance for the understanding of the fluctuations in the marine populations as well as their conditions of existence and changes,’ (Hjort 1943 p. 6) the Annales would provide just the type of information that would be needed to recover the lost momentum when the war ended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Neuron Network tool is adopted in an attempt to long term earthquake prediction for the Japan Trench subduction zone where an shock with magnitude 9 occurred last year and the probability model failed in forecast even after the shock. The preliminary result shows that the AI tool is helpful in such difficult a prediction, it can recognize some kind of rhythm of seismicity fluctuation that people can also find in the time series, but cannot be clear described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a dynamic model considering the human upper limb as a mechanic system with 6 degrees of freedom where the segments are moved by their own weight forces. The bones were modeled in Solid Works, the model of the upper limb obtained being very close as form to the real one. Based on this model, the calculus of mass proprieties was made. The differential equations of velocities obtained were solved using Lagrange formalism with help of Matlab programs. A dynamic model must provide a good approximation of total weight and mass distribution as well as transmissibility and amortization proprieties for bones, muscles and joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present some results obtained from a dynamic response analysis of a mobile mechanical system, in two cases, when the elements are considered as a rigid ones, and when these elements are considered deformable. For both situations we propose for analysis the Newton-Euler formalism completed with Lagrange's multipliers method. The obtained mathematical models were tested on a wiper windshield mechanism which has a spatial motion. Combining the experimental analysis with the dynamic inverse analysis we obtain the connecting forces variation laws from the mechanism's joints. These forces will constitute the loading base for finite element modeling of the all mechanical system. Through finite element modeling we were obtained the variation laws depending on time, for cinematic parameters in dynamic regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an original homogenization method to predict the elastic properties of multiphase pre-impregnated composite materials like Sheet- and Bulk Molding Compounds. The upper and lower limits of the homogenized coefficients for a 27% fibres volume fraction SMC are computed. It is presented a comparison between the upper and lower limits of the homogenized elastic coefficients of a SMC material and the experimental data. The estimation model used as a homogenization method of these heterogeneous composite materials, gave emphasis to a good agreement between this theoretical approach and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a mathematical and numerical study of the effect of gas entrapment on liquid dynamics in a closed-end horizontal capillary. This problem is important in order to understand how the presence of a gas inside the capillary can influence the dynamics of capillary flows and the non destructive test procedures carried out through liquid penetrant testing. In this context, by considering the most relevant approaches in modeling the gas entrapment inside a cylindrical capillary, some numerical simulations are carried out in order to deduce peculiar features arising in such a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important challenge to any image pixels classification system is to correctly assign each pixel to its proper class without blurring edges delimiting neighboring regions. In this paper, we present an aerial image mapping approach that advantageously combines unsupervised segmentation with a supervised Markov model based recognition. The originality of the proposed system carries on three concepts: the introduction of an auto-adaptive circular-like window size while applying our stochastic classification to preserve region edges, the extension of the Dependency Tree -HMM to permit the computation of likelihood probability on windows of different shapes and sizes and a mechanism that checks the coherence of the indexing by integrating both segmentations results: from unsupervised over segmentation, regions are assigned to the predominating class with a focus on inner region pixels. To validate our approach, we achieved experiments on real world high resolution aerial images. The obtained results outperform those obtained by supervised classification alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Markov models are well-established stochastic models for image analysis and processing since they allow one to take into account the contextual relationships between image pixels. In this paper, we attempt to methodically review the use of Markov models and their extensions for Land Cover mapping problem in aerial imagery according to available literature and previous research works. A new Markov model combining Markov random fields and hidden Markov models and inspired from the NSHP-HMM model, initially introduced for Handwritten Words Recognition is defined. New learning and labeling procedures are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents Lifting Scheme as a tool to compute the interpolated versions of an image for modeling Human Vision interpolation phenomenon at optimum computational load. Image can be zoomed in or zoomed out using various interpolation techniques. Here, Lifting Scheme is used as a tool to increase/decrease image size, even though image is not of size 2n x 2n where n is an integer. Zero padding technique is used for images those are not of size 2n x 2n dimensions. Any variable size reduction/magnification of an image can be computed using the proposed lifting scheme. For this, piecewise application of Lifting Scheme based DWT is presented along with the MSE & PSNR of reconstruction for gray and color images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape optimization is numerically a very demanding process, where several traditionally separate numerical processes meet together in a heterogeneous multidisciplinary environment. Typical elements involved are (1) the optimizer itself that implements the selected search strategy, (2) the parameterization procedure that provides the bidirectional mapping interface between the 3D geometric shape of the object and a limited number of parameters that control the parametric model of the geometry, (3) the simulation program that provides the results of the simulated interaction between the object and its environment (such as finite element analysis, FEA), and (4) control procedures that monitor the overall workflow and invoke mutual application calls (process flows and data flows) and handle data mining as well as acceptance or rejection of individual instances of candidate designs which are numerically generated and analyzed. In this paper, the set-up of this complex process, combined with evolutionary optimization, is developed with the objectives of numerical flexibility, computational efficiency in terms of combining sequential and parallel execution of individual applications, and low-cost implementation within an unmanaged computer cluster based on the Windows Communication Foundation, WCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the parallelization process of the code PROMES, which represents a regional atmospheric model developed by some of the authors. The parallel code, called PROMESPAR, has been carried out under a distributed platform (cluster of PCs) and using Message Passing Interface (MPI) communication subroutines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research in the sciences involves modelling and prediction of the functional relationship between simultaneous time series. In this paper we present a new method to infer functional relationship between simultaneous time series based on the modified version of Singular Value Decomposition method. We firstly extract the dominant relationships, perform pattern analyses on the dominant relationships, and construct the model equations of functional relationship between the time series through the time before the forecast period of interest. We then conduct predictions on the future values of one time series from another time series based on the model equations. Several regression schemes are proposed to serve as a prediction basis. The proposed model is applied to predict the real simultaneous health outcome time series. The simulation, the predictions and the real data show good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veneer drying is an important process in manufacturing of plywood and laminated veneer lumber. In order to understand and to improve the veneer drying, a mathematical model was developed based on heat and moisture mass transfer processes within the wood in the air stream. The model was validated from commercial scale drying tests. Air temperature, humidity and exit air velocity all affect the veneering drying to a different extent. This paper describes the drying time of veneer for 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm thickness. The variables considered for two wood groups were temperature, thickness and moisture content. An empirical equation was derived from a simple physical model and used to correlate this data. The raw material used mainly are kanyin (Botanical Name: Dipterocarpus spp) and Inn. Drying is a process of reducing the water content of timber economically and with the minimal damage to the stock. The empirical equation depends on the measurement of the moisture content and indirectly the water potential, the temperature at the surface of a wood specimen and different thickness which were used for the determination of drying time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates an integrated inventory model with fuzzy order quantity and fuzzy shortage quantity. We express order quantity and shortage quantity as the normal triangular fuzzy numbers and then we will find the membership function of fuzzy cost and its centroid. We find that the estimated value of the total cost in the fuzzy sense is higher than in the crisp model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of commodities, such as electronic components, computer, communication and consumer electronics (3C) products, and fashion goods, are characterized by limited lifecycles with multiple replenishing cycles. A retailer can purchase these commodities many times within a short selling season. But these commodities can be replenished once during each cycle. Then, a multi-period newsboy model extended from a single period newsboy model can be applied. This paper will extend the traditional single period newsboy model to a multi-period model between a manufacturer and a retailer to determine replenishment decisions for a product characterized by multiple ordering during a selling season that is replenishing only once during each period. For achieving the value chain coordination and enhancing the profits of all supply chain members, some coordination mechanisms will be adopted. A numerical analysis will be provided to demonstrate the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistics networks configuration is such kind of problems concerning facility location, production and distribution planning along the whole process of material flow. Abundant research has been done in this field from modeling by considering different scenarios to methods such as different heuristic methods. However, the models do not consider the influence of the important postponement strategy on logistics networks in the era of mass customization. Furthermore, the multi-commodity models till now do not consider the influence of commonality among products. In this paper, a logistics network model considering product commonality and postponement is formulated. This model is expected to be used to analyze the impacts of commonality and postponement strategies on location-allocation decisions in logistics network planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares three different models that have been developed in the literature for modeling and forecasting human mortality rates over the age range. The first model is the quadratic Gompertz model where the quadratic line is fitted for age and sex. The second is the one-dimensional Spline model, which fits linear combinations of the Basis Splines. The last model is the Lee-Carter model which is used to fit each sex to a set of age-specific death rates by fitting Poisson log-bilinear regression model in generalized linear models (GLM). A time-varying index of mortality is then forecasted using a time series linear forecasting model autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA). These forecasts are used to generate projected age-specific mortality rates in Kuwait for ages 55 to 90 for the period 2006-2015, based on the mortality data for years 1993-2005 for males and females separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of algorithms that show the mathematical model for obtaining gas rate correction factor that appeared in the book entitled "Well Productivity Handbook: Vertical, Fractured, Horizontal, Multilateral, and Intelligent Wells" are presented.

Chapter 4 of the book "Well Productivity Handbook: Vertical, Fractured, Horizontal, Multilateral, and Intelligent Wells," by Boyun Guo, Kai Sun and Ali Ghalambor is presented. It presents and illustrates several mathematical models to estimate the deliverability of gas and oil reservoirs, in which the models being selected must be checked against actual well production rates and bottom-hole pressures. An overview of the chapter's references and sample problems with their solutions is presented.

We focus in this paper on the specification and the execution of behavioral concepts for Open Distributed Processing (ODP) Enterprise Language. The behavior of an ODP system is determined by the collection of all the possible actions in which the system (acting as an object), or any of its constituent objects, might take part, together with a set of constraints on when these actions can occur. In order to specify the executable behavior of a system and to make the processes of the enterprise executable and controllable, the Reference Model for ODP RM-ODP can be used as a meta-model for behavioral specifications. In the enterprise language the behavior is specified in terms of roles, processes, policies, and the relationships between these concepts. Firstly, we give the description and specification of the behavior by the activity diagrams. Secondly, we define the mapping from the concepts of behavior enterprise language to BPEL concepts and we present the syntax and the structure of a BPEL Behavior process. Then we generate the corresponding BPEL and computational files to implement the specified process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]