CSL model checking algorithms for QBDs

We present an in-depth treatment of model checking algorithms for a class of infinite-state continuous-time Markov chains known as quasi-birth death processes. The model class is described in detail, as well as the logic CSL to express properties of interest. Using a new property-independency concept, we provide model checking algorithms for all the CSL operators. Special emphasis is given to the time-bounded until operator for which we present a new and efficient computational procedure named uniformization with representatives. By the use of an application-driven dynamic stopping criterion, the algorithm stops whenever the property to be checked can be certified (or falsified). A comprehensive case study of a connection management system shows the versatility of our new algorithms.     

基于模糊聚类的神经网络求解围棋死活博弈

围棋死活求解非常消耗计算资源,博弈树的节点数随分支因子和深度的增加而呈指数级增长,使得传统的完全遍历博弈树的搜索不足以胜任.文中提出了一种基于模糊聚类的神经网络方法,利用模式识别和模糊属性检测,为涉及到外部劫争、循环规避、哈希置换、证明树等多方面问题的围棋博弈死活求解,构建了基于神经网络的棋型聚类分析器,快速又有效地极大减小了博弈树的分支因子,节约了死活求解所耗费的计算时间和内存空间.实验证明取得了比较理想的结果,研究表明把自学习能力赋予程序是提高计算机围棋博弈性能的有效途径.     

企业寿命结构分析方法研究

为了推算我国企业的死亡高发期,采用静态分析方法编制了企业生命表;从理论上提出了一种企业寿命分析的研究方法,通过分析企业寿命的数据,可以了解企业的平均寿命和死亡高峰期;并结合具体数据进行了分析,以反映地区企业的生存状况,为政府部门的宏观决策提供了科学的依据。     

PSO算法在工程优化问题中的应用

粒子群优化算法是群体智能中一个新的分支。该算法本质上是一种随机搜索算法,并能以较大概率收敛到全局最优,特别适用于连续函数的优化。针对工程中的优化问题,将粒子群算法与死亡罚函数法相结合,提出一种求解有约束问题的优化算法。通过与其它算法的比较,表明该算法是一种简单、高效和普适的算法。     

Causes and prevention of boating fatalities

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes and prevention of the 333 boating deaths that occurred in Australia over the period 1992-1998. It involved: assessment of the Coroner's findings; review of witness statements, police reports, autopsy findings, search and rescue reports, weather maps and reports; analysis of forensic and scientific data; assessment of photographic evidence; review of other related information. The data were coded according to a recently developed national data standard. It was found that nearly half of the vessels involved had an insufficient number of personal flotation devices for the number of people on board; of all people killed only 9% were wearing them, and survivors were more than two times more likely to have been wearing them. If usage could be increased to 75%, five lives could be saved each year with a cost saving to the Australian community of nearly $8 million. The contribution of alcohol to boating deaths (28% in excess of 0.05g/100ml) was similar to its contribution to road deaths. The sequence of events resulting in a boating death was initiated most often by capsize (36%). Capsize was more likely to involve overloading or improper loading, hazardous wind or sea conditions, and dinghies. Twenty-five percent of the vessels involved in fatalities were dinghies and they were more likely to be overloaded, involve capsize, alcohol, and failure to wear a personal flotation device. Fatalities involving personal watercraft were mainly caused by human factors. Boating causes a significant level of harm to the Australian community measured in terms of mortality. This can be reduced by a concerted effort to address the identified hazards and protective factors.     

Xanthohumol kills B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by an apoptotic mechanism

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is an indolent lymphoid malignancy with variable prognosis. Adverse prognostic factors comprise treatment resistance, cytogenetics (11q- and 17p-), the presence of unmutated Ig genes, and the more comprehensive activation marker Zap 70. In contrast to diminished sensitivity to chemotherapy, Zap 70+ B-CLL cells retain their responsiveness to manipulation of signal transduction and monoclonals. Xanthohumol (XA) has recently been documented to have an impact on breast cancer cell growth and invasiveness in vitro. Based on these observations, lymphocytes from patients with B-CLL were cultured in the presence of XA in vitro. XA induced a dose-dependent killing of B-CLL cells at an LD(50) ((24 h)) of 24.4 +/- 6.6 microM, independent of known adverse prognostic factors including functional loss of p53. Cell death was associated with poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase cleavage and annexin V positivity, suggestive of an apoptotic mechanism. Surprisingly, p 70(S 6 K) phosphorylation was stimulated upon XA treatment. In conclusion, XA has an antitumor activity on B-CLL cells in vitro. The molecular mechanisms behind this pro-apoptotic effect deserve further investigation.     

Fantasies of women confronting death.

These 2 studies explore the unconscious significance of death. 5 psychoanalytically oriented theories are discussed and used as the basis for scoring fantasy material. In the first study, 25 cancer patients and matched controls hospitalized for minor illnesses were given the TAT. Major findings for the dying patients point to (a) no increase in the use of denial, (b) an increase in themes of punishment, and (c) a rise in fantasies of illicit sexuality. The possibility is raised that death itself is sexualized and that this sexualization may at times increase, at other times decrease, death anxiety. In the second study, 25 women with a variety of serious illnesses and their controls were given selected TAT cards and new pictures. Results generally supported the prior findings. (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From the field to the web: implementing best-practice recommendations in documentary linguistics

New methods of documenting languages with digital technologies has led to a multitude of different formats that are difficult to reuse over time. To overcome the problems surrounding the portability of digital language documentation, linguists are in the process of formulating best-practice recommendations to increase the likelihood of their work's long-term survival. This paper describes the implementation of a comprehensive set of current best-practice recommendations pertaining to content, format, discovery, access, citation, preservation, and rights in the context of the language documentation efforts of the Texas German Dialect Project. This project is different from others in that it is not primarily concerned with digitizing and archiving existing recordings. Instead, the archive it is creating is the end-result of a research project whose workflow begins with data-collection in the filed and ends with depositing digitized and annotated language materials in a web-accessible digital archive of Texas German. This paper shows how a number of conflicting best-practice recommendations can be resolved, thereby satisfying the diverse needs of academic research, teaching, and outreach to the community. As such, the results reported here are an important contribution to the search for strategies guaranteeing the long-term survival of digital language documentation resources.

Adolescent Adjustment Before and After HIV-Related Parental Death.

The impact of HIV-related parental death on 414 adolescents was examined over a period of 6 years. The adjustment of bereaved adolescents was compared over 4 time periods relative to parental death and was also compared with the adjustment of nonbereaved adolescents. Bereaved adolescents had significantly more emotional distress, negative life events, and contact with the criminal justice system than nonbereaved youths; these behaviors did not remain significantly higher after parental death. Depressive symptoms and passive problem solving increased soon after parental death, as compared with nonbereaved adolescents. One year subsequent to parental death, depression and passive problem solving were similar to the levels of nonbereaved peers. Only sexual risk behaviors increased following parental death. These results suggest the importance of early family intervention soon after parental HIV diagnosis, prior to parental death, and sustained over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)