Managing knowledge on communication and information flow in global software projects

Communication is a key success factor of distributed software projects. Poor communication has been identified as a main obstacle to successful collaboration. Global projects are especially endangered by information gaps between collaborating sites. Different communication styles, technical equipment, and missing awareness of each other can cause severe problems. Knowledge about actual and desired channels, paths, and modes of communication is required for improving communication in a globally distributed project. However, many project participants know little about communication and information flow in their projects. In this contribution, we focus on knowledge about communication and information flow. It is acquired by modelling on‐going and desired flows of information, including documented and non‐documented channels of information flow. We analyzed a distributed software project from the information flow perspective. Based on the findings, we developed specific techniques to improve information flow in distributed software development according to the FLOW Method. In a second distributed project, we evaluated one of the techniques. We found the FLOW mapping technique to be suitable for effectively spreading knowledge about communication and information flow in global software projects.     

Integration by communication: knowledge exchange in global outsourcing of product software development

Global outsourcing is a growing trend among independent software vendors. In these projects like other distributed work, distances have negative effects on communication and coordination, directly impacting performance. We present a normative model designed to address this issue by improving communication and knowledge exchange. The model consists of six distinct practices and a tool blueprint, each coming with practical guidelines. It is based in part on two case studies of Dutch software vendors who have successfully outsourced part of their activities to an Eastern European outsourcing vendor, and validated by a panel of six experts from industry and the scientific community. It is concluded that knowledge exchange in global software outsourcing is a by‐product of efforts to enhance communication and coordination, rather than specific technical solutions. By committing to sharing knowledge, emphasizing transparency and integrating the outsourcing team into their organizations, customers from the product software business can realize the benefits of global outsourcing.     

动态格点搜索的改进算法用于团簇结构快速优化

结合高效的动态格点搜索(DLS)算法与扰动操作(Perturbation Operation)提出一种新的改进方法(DLS-PO),用于确定团簇的最低能量结构。针对一个特定构型,DLS算法总能给出其对应搜索空间的最规则结构。然而,一次失败的DLS优化将消耗大量的运算资源。为此,采取原子移动和结构旋转的扰动操作成功地改变了构型,再结合后续的DLS操作,提高了优化效率。将该算法用于原子数高达309的Lennard-Jones团簇及100原子NP-B函数铝团簇的结构优化。优化结果显示相比于DLS算法,DLS-PO算法更为高效。     

关于自适应非线性镇定的某些结果

不确定非线性系统的反馈控制一直是控制科学的中心问题之一,迄今已经取得很大进展。然而,目前现有大部分工作所研究的反馈控制规律,或是连续时间形式的,或是采样反馈形式但需要采样频率充分快,或是离散时间反馈形式,但需要被控离散时间系统的非线性函数增长速度不超过线性。要消除或减弱这些约束条件,一般来讲是相当困难的。这就促使我们探究反馈机制的最大能力和根本局限。尽管近年来在这个方向有许多重要进展,但仍有许多非平凡的重要问题有待研究。例如,在反馈通道中有时滞情形,或者系统状态是高维的情形。在本文中,我们将探索两类比较特殊的离散时间不确定非线性动力系统的控制问题,给出关于全局自适应反馈镇定的某些初步结果。     

可逆冷带轧机速度张力多变量耦合系统的建模及分散控制

针对具有多变量、非线性、强耦合和不确定性的可逆冷带轧机速度张力系统,提出了一种基于扩张状态观测器(extended state observer,ESO)的全局积分滑模自适应反步分散控制方法.首先,采用机理建模方法,建立了相对完备的可逆冷带轧机速度张力多变量耦合系统的数学模型.其次,将各子系统的耦合项和不确定项看成外扰,通过构造的ESO对其进行动态观测,并分别引入所设计的全局积分滑模自适应反步控制器中进行补偿,速度张力系统实现了有效的动态解耦和协调控制.理论分析表明,所提出的控制方法能够保证滑模面的渐近稳定和闭环系统的渐近跟踪性能.最后,基于某1422mm可逆冷带轧机速度张力系统的实际数据进行仿真,结果验证了所提方法的有效性.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized upland fields in Thailand

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from fertilized maize fields was measured using a closed chamber at four experimental sites in Thailand. The average measured N₂O flux from unfertilized plots through crop season was 4.16 ± 1.52, 5.05 ± 1.65, 5.25 ± 1.68 and 6.74 ± 2.95 g N₂O-N m^-2 h^-1, at Nakhon Sawan, Phra Phutthabat, Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai, respectively. Increased N₂O emissions by the application of nitrogen fertilizer were 0.22–0.44, 0.19–0.38%, 0.12–0.24 and 0.08–0.15% of the applied N, respectively. Compared to other data, N₂O emission rate to applied nitrogen was not significantly different between the data of Thailand and the Temperate Zone.     

Scalable Realistic Rendering with Many‐Light Methods

Recent years have seen increasing attention and significant progress in many‐light rendering, a class of methods for efficient computation of global illumination. The many‐light formulation offers a unified mathematical framework for the problem reducing the full lighting transport simulation to the calculation of the direct illumination from many virtual light sources. These methods are unrivaled in their scalability: they are able to produce plausible images in a fraction of a second but also converge to the full solution over time. In this state‐of‐the‐art report, we give an easy‐to‐follow, introductory tutorial of the many‐light theory; provide a comprehensive, unified survey of the topic with a comparison of the main algorithms; discuss limitations regarding materials and light transport phenomena and present a vision to motivate and guide future research. We will cover both the fundamental concepts as well as improvements, extensions and applications of many‐light rendering.     

浅谈当前环境保护工作现状及对策

随着经济的飞速发展,我国的环境状况在不断恶化。就目前的环境现状、环境污染问题和环境保护工作现状进行了详细分析和阐述,并对环境保护工作提出参考和建议。     

Addressing the CO2 dilemma

Perspectives are offered for reducing the impact of huge amounts of CO₂ produced today from power generation and transportation vehicles. The origins of the dilemma between the world’s increasing use of hydrocarbons as an energy source and the cogeneration of CO₂ which results as a co-product are discussed. Hydrocarbons will provide much of the fuel needs for these major, global industries for the next 20 years and meet 60% of the world’s energy demand. With the growth of both power generation and transportation vehicles around the world, CO₂ levels will continue to increase in the atmosphere. Renewables such as wind, dams, and biomass will not be able to handle all the energy demand. Technology breakthroughs are needed to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, which will be aggravated by the drive to use more coal. Current approaches for removing CO₂ are discussed as well as near term and future options with particular focus on how catalysis can offer some solutions. In particular, solar photocatalysis based approaches offer a potentially viable energy solution.     

带两类正态变异的PSO 算法

针对基本粒子群优化算法(PSO)容易陷入局部最优点和收敛速度较慢的缺点,提出在PSO更新过程中加入两类基于正态分布投点的变异操作。一类变异用来增强局部搜索能力,另一类变异用来提高发现全局最优点的能力,避免所有粒子陷入到一个局部最优点的邻域内。数值结果表明,所提出算法的全局搜索能力有显著提高,并且收敛速度更快。