The paper combines Tobin\'s Q theory of real investment with the capital asset pricing model to produce a new and relatively simple procedure for the valuation of real assets using the income approach. Applications of the new method are provided.

Suppose {X_i, i≥1} and {Y_i, i≥1} are two independent sequences with distribution functions F_X(x) and F_Y(x), respectively. Z_i,n is the combination ofXi and Y_i with a probability pn for each i with 1≤i≤n. The extreme value distribution G_Z(x) of this particular triangular array of the i.i.d. random variables Z_1,n, Z_2,n, ..., Z_n,n is discussed. We found a new form of the extreme value distribution ΛA(ρx)Λ(x) (0<ρ<1), which is not max-stable. It occurs if F_X(x) and F_Y(x) belong to the same MDA(Λ). G_Z(x) does not exist as mixture forms of the different types of extreme value distributions.

This paper presents an efficient parallel algorithm for the shortest path problem in planar layered digraphs that runs in O(log³n) time with nprocessors. The algorithms uses a divide and conquer approach and is based on the novel idea of a one-way separator, which has the property that any directed path can be crossed only once.

This paper presents two new theorems for multiplicative perturbations of C-regularized resolvent families, which generalize the previous related ones for the resolvent families.

Mutual funds are usually classified on the basis of their objectives. If the activities of mutual funds are consistent with their stated objectives, investors may look at the latter as signals of their risks and incomes. This work analyzes mutual fund objective classification in China by statistical methods of distance analysis and discriminant analysis; and examines whether the stated investment objectives of mutual funds adequately represent their attributes to investors. That is, if mutual funds adhere to their stated objectives, attributes must be heterogeneous between investment objective groups and homogeneous within them. Our conclusion is to some degree, the group of optimized exponential funds is heterogeneous to other groups. As a whole, there exist no significant differences between different objective groups; and 50% of mutual funds are not consistent with their objective groups.

This paper presents an overlay network topology called Virtual and Dynamic Hierarchical Architecture (VDHA) for discovering Grid services with high performance. Service discovery based on VDHA has scalable, autonomous, efficient, reliable and quick responsive. We propose two service discovery algorithms. Full Search Query and Discovery Protocol (FSQDP) discovers the nodes that match the request message from all N nodes, which has time complexity O(logN), space complexity O(nvg) (nvgbeing node numbers of each virtual group), and message-cost O(N), and Domain-Specific Query and Discovery Protocol (DSQDP) searches nodes in only specific domains with time complexity O(nvg), space complexity O(nvg), and message-cost O(nvg). In this paper, we also describe VDHA, its formal definition, and Grid Group Management Protocol.

Rapid developments in network systems of business service have resulted in more reliance on distributed computing, typified by \"subscriber/push\" architectures. Unfortunately, frequent and unexpectable network failures were routine, and downtime was not in hours, but in days. High availability has become the most important factor decreasing business risk and improving Quality of Service. Cluster technology has solved the non-stop problem on Local Area Network. However, most technologies including cluster today fail to ensure the non-stop Internet service based on Routers. With good performance on high availability and fault tolerance, quorum systems are very suitable for application to distributed business service networks. In this work, we modeled and developed a non-stop Internet service system based on a new quorum system, circle quorum system, for Boston Mutual Fund Broker, US. With five protocols, it provided highly available data services for clients on Internet.

This paper provides theoretical foundation for the problem of localization in multi-robot formations. Sufficient and necessary conditions for completely localizing a formation of mobile robots/vehicles in SE(2) based on distributed sensor networks and graph rigidity are proposed. A method for estimating the quality of localizations via a linearized weighted least-squares algorithm is presented, which considers incomplete and noisy sensory information. The approach in this paper had been implemented in a multi-robot system of five car-like robots equipped with omni-directional cameras and IEEE 802.11b wireless network.

The linear multi-baseline stereo system introduced by the CMU-RI group has been proven to be a very effective and robust stereovision system. However, most traditional stereo rectification algorithms are all designed for binocular stereovision system, and so, cannot be applied to a linear multi-baseline system. This paper presents a simple and intuitional method that can simultaneously rectify all the cameras in a linear multi-baseline system. Instead of using the general 8-parameter homography transform, a two-step virtual rotation method is applied for rectification, which results in a more specific transform that has only 3 parameters, and more stability. Experimental results for real stereo images showed the presented method is efficient.

With the development of general-purpose processors (GPP) and video signal processing algorithms, it is possible to implement a software-based real-time video encoder on GPP, and its low cost and easy upgrade attract developers\' interests to transfer video encoding from specialized hardware to more flexible software. In this paper, the encoding structure is set up first to support complexity scalability; then a lot of high performance algorithms are used on the key time-consuming modules in coding process; finally, at programming level, processor characteristics are considered to improve data access efficiency and processing parallelism. Other programming methods such as lookup table are adopted to reduce the computational complexity. Simulation results showed that these ideas could not only improve the global performance of video coding, but also provide great flexibility in complexity regulation.

This paper presents a novel Web Service based distributed collaborative CAD system employing feature as its collaborative design element and uses XML to define feature operations and communication protocol between the server and the client. To reduce network load and increase response ability of the system, the feature information is updated incrementally on the client. The system supports collaborative designing on heterogeneous platforms. Its framework and communication protocols are analyzed in detail. The experimental results from the developed prototype system showed that it can effectively support collaborative design under the distributed environment.

This paper discusses a model-based approach to validate software requirements in agile development processes by simulation and in particular automated testing. The use of models as central development artifact needs to be added to the portfolio of software engineering techniques, to further increase efficiency and flexibility of the development beginning already early in the requirements definition phase. Testing requirements are some of the most important techniques to give feedback and to increase the quality of the result. Therefore testing of artifacts should be introduced as early as possible, even in the requirements definition phase.

The linear and non-linear math models of the switched reluctance generator (SRG) in generator mode were established in this work. The phase current and energy conversion process during generator operation were simulated by the linear math model. The non-linear math model was used to analyze the characteristics of the SRG operation in self-excitation >mode and in separately-excitation mode. Some important findings on how the SRG is operated and controlled were obtained in this study, which provides theoretical basis for further design and experimental study.

Systematic studies of the transport properties of La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_1-xFe_xO₃ (x=0-0.3) systems showed that with increasing Fe-doping content x the resistance increases and the insulator-metal transition temperature moves to lower temperature. For small doping content, the transport property satisfies metal transport behavior below the transition temperature, and above the transition temperature it satisfies the small polaron model. This behavior can be explained by Fe³⁺ doping, which easily forms Fe³⁺-O^2--Mn⁴⁺ channel, suppressing the double exchange Mn³⁺-O^2--Mn⁴⁺ channel and enhancing the spin scattering of Mn ions induced by antiferromagnetic clusters of Fe ions.

This paper presents a simple solution of the dynamic buckling of stiffened plates under in-plane impact loading. Based on large deflection theory, a discretely stiffened plate model has been used. The tangential stresses of stiffeners and in-plane displacement are neglected. Appling the Hamilton\'s principle, the motion equations of stiffened plates are obtained. The deflection of the plate is taken as Fourier series, and using Galerkin method the discrete equations can be deduced, which can be solved easily by Runge-Kutta method. The dynamic buckling loads of the stiffened plates are obtained form Budiansky-Roth criterion.

Nonlinear solution of reinforced concrete structures, particularly complete load-deflection response, requires tracing of the equilibrium path and proper treatment of the limit and bifurcation points. In this regard, ordinary solution techniques lead to instability near the limit points and also have problems in case of snap-through and snap-back. Thus they fail to predict the complete load displacement response. The arc-length method serves the purpose well in principle, received wide acceptance in finite element analysis, and has been used extensively. However modifications to the basic idea are vital to meet the particular needs of the analysis. This paper reviews some of the recent developments of the method in the last two decades, with particular emphasis on nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures.