The high cost of software maintenance could be reduced by automatically improving the design of object-oriented programs without altering their behaviour. We have constructed a software tool capable of refactoring object-oriented programs to conform more closely to a given design quality model, by formulating the task as a search problem in the space of alternative designs. This novel approach ...

We propose an autonomous and scalable queueing theory-based methodology to control the performance of a hierarchical network of distributed agents. Multi-agent systems (MAS) such as supply chains functioning in highly dynamic environments need to achieve maximum overall utility during operation. Hence, the objective of the control framework is to identify the trade-offs between quality and perf...

In order to apply constraint programming to a particular domain, the problem must first be modelled as a constraint satisfaction problem. There are typically many alternative models of a given problem, and formulating an effective model requires a great deal of expertise. To reduce this bottleneck, the Essence language allows the specification of a problem abstractly, i.e. without making modell...

There are a variety of ways of building stochastic grammars based on Harmonic Grammar (Hayes 2017). A basic division is often drawn between ‘Maximum Entropy’ grammars and Noisy Harmonic Grammars, which are superficially quite different in form. However both can be formulated as Random Utility Models, which are widely used in economics to model choice among discrete alternatives (Train 2009). Ex...

In formulating the stability problem for an infinite chain of cars, state space is traditionally taken to be the Hilbert space l2, wherein the displacements of cars from their equilibria, or the velocities from their equilibria, are taken to be square summable. But this obliges the displacements or velocity perturbations of cars that are far down the chain to be vanishingly small and leads to a...

The notion of optimality and its feasibility are revisited in the context of behavior-based control. It is argued that optimal behavior is not feasible for real-world applications. As an alternative to optimality I promote Pareto-optimal and satissc-ing solutions which correspond to eecient and`good enough' behavior. It is then demonstrated that multiple objective decision theory provides a sui...

In this paper it is argued that the problem of formulating a comprehensive theory of successful ageing – and thereby of finding good criteria for success – may be attributed to the lack of a suitable multidisciplinary framework that meets at least three basic theoretical requirements. These requirements are explicated, and some existing theories and approaches of successful ageing are discussed...

In formulating the stability problem for an infinite chain of cars, state space is traditionally taken to be the Hilbert space `, wherein the displacements of cars from their equilibria, or the velocities from their equilibria, are taken to be square summable. But this obliges the displacements or velocity perturbations of cars that are far down the chain to be vanishingly small and leads to an...

OBJECTIVE To describe a clinical approach to the differential diagnosis of oral lesions in neonates. DESIGN Case report. SETTING Academic ambulatory care center. PARTICIPANTS Male infant. RESULTS A gingival mass in a male infant appeared clinically consistent with a congenital epulis. Following excision and histologic examination, the diagnosis was determined to be a pyogenic granuloma....

Successful transplant production begins with selecting good growing media. Healthy vigorous transplants will be less susceptible to insects, diseases and transplant shock, leading to improved overall crop performance. Formulating organic potting mixes is especially challenging. Organic sources of nitrogen, such as compost, can be inconsistent. Compost chemical, biological and physical character...