Experiences building a communication‐oriented JavaOS

Mobile code makes it easier to maintain, debug, update, and customize a system. Active networks are one of the more interesting applications of mobile code: code is injected into the nodes of a network to customize the network's functionality, such as routing, and to add new features, such as special‐purpose congestion control and filtering algorithms. The challenge is to develop a communication‐oriented platform for such systems. We refer to mobile code targeted at low‐level, communication‐oriented systems like active networks as liquid software, the key distinction being that liquid software is focused on the efficient transfer of data, not high‐performance computation. To this end, we have designed and implemented Joust, which consists of a complete re‐implementation of the Java virtual machine (including both the runtime system and a just‐in‐time compiler), running on the Scout operating system (a configurable, communication‐oriented OS). The result is a configurable, high‐performance platform for running liquid software. We present the results of implementing two different applications of liquid software on Joust, including a prototype architecture for active networks. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Minimizing the maximum starting time on-line

We study the scheduling problem of minimizing the maximum starting time on-line. The goal is to minimize the last time that a job starts. We show that while the greedy algorithm has a competitive ratio of Θ (log m), we can give a constant competitive algorithm for this problem. We also show that the greedy algorithm is optimal for resource augmentation in the sense that it requires 2m − 1 machines to have a competitive ratio of 1, whereas no algorithm can achieve this with 2m − 2 machines.     

Divide and Congruence Applied to η-Bisimulation

We present congruence formats for η- and rooted η-bisimulation equivalence. These formats are derived using a method for decomposing modal formulas in process algebra. To decide whether a process algebra term satisfies a modal formula, one can check whether its subterms satisfy formulas that are obtained by decomposing the original formula. The decomposition uses the structural operational semantics that underlies the process algebra.     

Binge-drinking-related consequences in college students: Role of drinking beliefs and mother–teen communications.

The present research contrasted theoretical models depicting the nature of the relation among drinking beliefs, drinking tendencies, and behavioral consequences in 266 incoming freshman college students. It also examined the theoretical relations between mother–teen communications and drinking beliefs relevant to behavioral consequences. The findings revealed direct relations between binge-drinking consequences and the drinking beliefs: Alcohol can make positive transformations, can enhance social behavior, and can increase negative affect and normative approval. Direct relations were not observed between consequences and the drinking beliefs regarding physical risk and health orientation. Finally, the present research found consistent support for the relation between mother–teen communications and drinking beliefs relevant to binge-drinking consequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rapid Screening of Lectins for Multivalency Effects with a Glycodendrimer Microarray

Multivalency is an important phenomenon in protein–carbohydrate interactions. In order to evaluate glycodendrimers as multivalent inhibitors of carbohydrate binding proteins, we displayed them on a microarray surface. Valencies were varied from 1 to 8, and corrections were made for the valencies so that all surfaces contained the same amount of the sugar ligand. Five different carbohydrates were attached to the dendrimers. A series of fluorescent lectins was evaluated, and for each of them a binding profile was obtained from a single experiment showing both the specificity of the lectin for a certain sugar and whether it prefers multivalent ligands or not. Very distinct binding patterns were seen for the various lectins. The results were rationalized with respect to the interbinding distances of the lectins.     

Adsorption, desorption and isotopic exchange of cadmium on illite: evidence for complete reversibility

Adsorption, desorption and isotopic exchange of Cd on illite clay have been studied at low Cd concentrations and low ionic strength. The results indicate that under the conditions of the experiments Cd sorption on illite is completely reversible. Long equilibration times (7–8 weeks) were shown to be essential because of slow desorption kinetics.     

When groups are more competitive than individuals: The domain of the discontinuity effect.

The related goals of the research were to delineate the domain of discontinuity, 1st by demonstrating its occurrence in a nonmatrix situation and, 2nd, by establishing the antecedent outcome conditions necessary for producing a discontinuity effect. The 1st goal was met by designing a mixed motive situation involving the production of origami products. Under these conditions, the magnitude of the discontinuity effect did not significantly differ from that in a matrix-only condition. The 2nd goal was met by a separate experiment that used H. H. Kelley and J. W. Thibaut's (1978) analysis of degree of noncorrespondence of outcomes. This experiment demonstrated that as noncorrespondence increased, so did the rate of competitive responding by groups but not by individuals. This pattern was qualified by an interaction with gender such that competitiveness was more markedly affected by noncorrespondence for groups of women than for groups of men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)