Over the last two decades a considerable amount of effort has been put in the development and application of matrix geometric techniques for the analysis of queueing systems of which the (embedded) Markov chain exhibits a regzllar structure. Most of this work however has been presented in either a mathematical conta t or in a purely application-oriented context. In this paper we present XMGM, a...

Various DC-SQUID sensor configurations were developed for use in our 19-channel neuromagnetometer. Apart from the standard type, resistively and inductively shunted SQUIDs were made, allowing for a large screening factor p (>l). In this way signal coupling from the pick-up coil to the SQUID is facilitated and capacitive coupling between the input coil and the SQUID washer can be decreased. The ...

R This paper propases two intelligent agents for learning object automated sequencing using heuristíc and local search. In e-learning iniliatives, sequencing problem concerns arranging a particular se! 01 learning units in a suitable succession for a particular learner. Sequencing ls usualIy perfonned by instructors, who create general and ordered series ra/her than leamer personalized sequence...

Much scholarship has been undertaken with regards to the evolution of the European shipbuilding traditions and their physical changes, but few explanations for the changes are given. This paper seeks to identify the correlations between the expansion of the English timber trade in the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries and the changes in shipbuilding at the time, thereby creating a framework f...

In this paper we report on research on road extraction at TUM (Technische Universität München). We propose a scheme for road extraction in rural areas that integrates three different modules with specific strengths. The first module employs local grouping and uses multiple scales and context to reliably extract most parts of the road network. In order to connect these parts, the second module e...

BACKGROUND The early post-partum period is a crucial time for breastfeeding support. Mothers who have physical and emotional support during this period are more likely to be successful in breastfeeding. This study examined the relationship between father involvement and support for breast feeding initiation and duration in first-time mothers. METHODS Overall, 146 women who attended a childbir...

JJ.Jiao Land reclamation has played a significant role in the urban development process in many coastal areas in the world. While reclamation provides valuable land, it also creates various coastal engineering, environmental and marine ecological problems. These problems directly caused by reclamation have been well recognized and widely studied. However, it has not been recognized yet that rec...

Editor's Note: These short, critical reviews of recent papers in the Journal, written exclusively by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows, are intended to summarize the important findings of the paper and provide additional insight and commentary. For more information on the format and purpose of the Journal Club, please see Review of Yoshida et al. Game theorists often quote the story of ...

In this paper we report on a recent public experiment that shows two robots making pancakes using web instructions. In the experiment, the robots retrieve instructions for making pancakes from the World Wide Web and generate robot action plans from the instructions. This task is jointly performed by two autonomous robots: The first robot, TUM James, opens and closes cupboards and drawers, takes...