Biopolymers from Renewable Resources is a compilation of information on the diverse and useful polymers derived from agricultural, animal, and microbial sources. The volume provides insight into the diversity of polymers obtained directly from, or derived from, renewable resources. The beneficial aspects of utilizing polymers from renewable resources, when considering synthesis, pro cessing, disposal, biodegradability, and overall material life-cycle issues, suggests that this will continue to be an important and growing area of interest. The individual chapters provide information on...

Artificial Intelligence and cognitive science are the two fields devoted to the study and development of knowledge-based systems (KBS). Over the past 25years, researchers have proposed several approaches for modeling knowledge in KBS, including several kinds of formalism such as semantic networks, frames, and logics. In the early 1980s, J.F. Sowa introduced the conceptual graph (CG) theory which provides a knowledge representation framework consisting of a form of logic with a graph notationand integrating several features from semantic net and frame representations. Since that time, several...

Examines the developments in the decision support system (DSS) field. This book features articles from an international group of contributors that offer perspectives and presentations on advances in the foundations of DSS, DSS development, DSS usage evaluation, and DSS applications.

Difference sets are of central interest in finite geometry and design theory. One of the main techniques to investigate abelian difference sets is a discrete version of the classical Fourier transform (i.e., character theory) in connection with algebraic number theory. This approach is described using only basic knowledge of algebra and algebraic number theory. It contains not only most of our present knowledge about abelian difference sets, but also gives applications of character theory to projective planes with quasiregular collineation groups. Therefore, the book is of interest both to...

This book describes the development of an integrated product and process modelling system using advanced computer technologies. The reader should gain a clear impression of the various technical aspects of CIM systems using techniques corresponding to emerging new standards.

This collection of technical reports by European researchers demonstrates the potential of coherent optical techniques in the context of local area networks. The contributors summarize work on optical and network architectures and report the results obtained in developing components.

This ESPRIT project integrates formal proof techniques and abstraction mechanisms within a common framework to create an environment for scientific software design. It focuses upon recent developments concerning abstraction of data types, data base management, specification and program verification.

Traditionally, the European-based biannual international conference "EUROSPEECH" dealing with all aspects of speech science and technology is preceded by an "ESPRIT Speech Projects Days," which presents a particularly well timed opportunity to measure progress in speech technology and ap- plications in Europe. The last venue was held in Berlin, Germany, on September 20th, 1993. The success of this workshop encouraged the major European experts in the field to contribute to this volume. Published in the ESPRIT Research Report series, it presents the results of advanced European research on...

One can observe that a wide range of human activities involves various forms of de sign. Especially if the goal implies the creation of an artifact, design is at the very center of these activities. It is the general understanding in the public to place design especially in the context of, for example, fashion, furniture, household items, cars, and architecture or in a more general way at the intersection of art and engineering. Of course, in the field of information technology, developers of software and hard ware are called system 'designers'. Design can be identified and considered in the...

The Orchestra (Organizational Change, Evolution, Structuring and Awareness) project, as the name suggests, was the result of the contributions of a number of people and organizations, whose collaborative efforts made the project and its results possible. This report provides readers with a global perspective on the project, its conceptual roots, the developed technologies, the partners, and the users. The following subsection is a long but necessary acknowledgement to a large number of people, from the several organizations that participated in the project: INESC (P), SMD (P), Software AG...