Abstract: The severity of interface issues and the necessity of interface management (IM) have not received adequate recognition from both industry and academia. The understanding of interface issues is still insufficient and the proposed or employed measures are unilateral, which result in unsatisfactory IM performance in construction projects. After establishing IM’s importance in the construction industry, this paper presents a multiperspective approach that systematically explores comprehensive cause factors for various interface issues. From six interrelated perspectives, namely people/participants, methods/processes, resources, documentation, project management, and environment, hierarchical cause factors are identified and presented in a structured way. These cause factors are further converted into a series of interface management and control elements that allow for the development of an object data model and a systematic model-based IM strategy dealing with all interface issues. The multiperspective approa...

Abstract: : Organizations struggle with many problems in complex systems of systems for which solutions are not codified or even conceived, such as a mutual understanding of "common" terms and concepts across participating enterprises and the lack of a global view by any single system-of-systems participant. System and software purchasers and suppliers need a different set of approaches and techniques than are typically in use today to satisfy user demands that reflect turbulent operational environments. Beyond purchasers and engineers, all participants in a complex, systems-of-systems environment need a different set of perspectives and expectations about user demands than those typical in product-centered engineering. The SoS Navigator approach provides leaders participating in complex systems of systems with (1) novel insights into critical aspects of the demand and supply sides of their situation and (2) criteria on which to decide whether their systems-of-systems context requires the adoption and sustainment of a different business model than ones that are typical today. This technical note introduces the fundamental concepts, processes, and techniques of the evolving SoS Navigator approach. It also summarizes case studies that illustrate the use of SoS Navigator processes and tools in healthcare, military, and civilian government systems-of-systems contexts.

Abstract: Abstract Where pharmacological approaches to chemical dependency are concerned, addiction is frequently considered essentially a brain disease, but no medication is likely ever to control addiction on its own, without treatment applied to the social and behavioral dimensions of chemical dependency (Leshner, 1997; NIDA, 1999). Even when immediate physiological dependency has been addressed and overcome, there will always remain those environmental and emotional cues that, when encountered, may tend to reawaken the craving and result in relapse (Beck et al., 2001). Visiting a certain neighborhood or location, pursuing activities with a particular group of people, or just being alone and experiencing feelings of boredom, emptiness, or anxiety can all trigger powerful and familiar cravings, even after prolonged periods of abstinence (Franken et al., 2001; Leshner, 1997).

Abstract: Abstract Since the history of mathematics tells narratives about past mathematics, it is obvious that all that it narrates is based on one or more source documents, for nobody among us has ever met Archimedes, or even Gauss. However, the source documents are not in themselves history, and the fundamental task of the historian is to make a history from those documents. There are particular features and di7culties in the interpretation of sources for the history of mathematics, which depend on the period and area treated.

Abstract: Investigation into the status of Ultrasonic Flow Measurement in heavy oil service, specifically in fiscal measurements. The objective of the study was to determine the status of current technology, its limitations and gaps, affecting Ultrasonic Flow Measurement performance and to provide direction for future research and initiatives. Result: The first task completed was an industry standard survey of Ultrasonic Flow Measurement vendors. This survey required the research of existing publications, interviewing operators of existing installations and interviewing qualified ultrasonic meter vendors. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to the vendors for completion, operators identified and supplied with the identical questionnaire and the results inputted within a comparison matrix which was used for rating the various vendors and status indicators of ultrasonic flow measurement technology in heavy oil service. The second task completed was a compilation of the survey results including the detailed responses and summary of all findings. Benefit: The report identified several barriers preventing the expanded use of ultrasonic flow meters in heavy oil service. The report also includes recommendations on who best to overcome these barriers for expanded use and identified future research required to broaden the adoption of ultrasonic flow measurement for heavy oil service (crudes).

Abstract: It was a goal of this project to identify and evaluate nonpiston vehicle concepts that could potentially carry inspection sensors and recording apparatus into both piggable and nonpiggable pipelines. It has been suggested that pipeline integrity management in some future time might include the use of autonomous robots that would "live" in a pipeline, taking power from the moving product stream and communicating to the outside of the pipeline, from time to time, information on the condition of the pipeline. The system then would include a vehicle, sensors, data recording, power generation, and communication. Work has been done in various research centers on each of these components. Some mention will be made of the other components, but the thrust of this report is on the vehicle.