This paper investigates some fundamental properties of alternating one-way (or two-way) pushdown automata (pda's) with sublogarithmic space. We first show that strongly (weakly) sublogarithmic space-bounded two-way alternating pda's are more powerful than one-way alternating pda's with the same space-bound. Then, we show that weakly sublogarithmic space-bounded two-way (one-way) alternating pda's are more powerful than two-way (one-way) nondeterministic pda's and alternating pda's with only universal states using the same space, and we also show that weakly sublogarithmic space-bounded one-way nondeterministic Turing machines are incomparable with one-way alternating Turing machines with only universal states using the same space. Furthermore, we investigate several fundamental closure properties, and show that the class of languages accepted by weakly sublogarithmic space-bounded one-way alternating pda's and the class of languages accepted by sublogarithmic space-bounded two-way deterministic pda's (nondeterministic pda's, alternating pda's with only universal states) are not closed under concatenation, Kleene closure, and length preserving homomorphism. Finally, we briefly investigate a relationship between 'strongly' and 'weakly'.

Using fundamental device and circuits, we have realized three functions required for synaptic connections in self-organizing neural networks: long term memory of synaptic weights, fixed total amount of synaptic weights in a neuron, and lateral inhibition. The first two functions have been condensed into an optical adaptive device and circuits with floating gates. Lateral inhibition has been realized by a winner-take-all circuit and a following lateral excitatory connection circuit. We have fabricated these devices and circuits using CMOS technology and confirmed the three functions. In addition, topological mapping, which is essential for feature extraction, has been formed in a primitive network constructed with the fundamental device and circuits.

We propose a new algorithm for minimizing the number of vertices of an approximate curve by keeping the error within a given bound (min-# problem) with the parallel-strip error criterion. The best existing algorithm which solves this problem has O (n2 log n) time complexity. Our algorithm which uses the Cone Intersection Method does not have an improved time complexity, but does have a high efficiency. In particular, for practical data such as those which represent the boundaries or the skeletons of an object, the new algorithm can solve the min-# problem in nearly O(n2) time.

An ordered binary decision diagram (OBDD) is a directed acyclic graph for representing a Boolean function. OBDDs are widely used in various areas which require Boolean function manipulation, since they can represent efficiently many practical Boolean functions and have other desirable properties. However, there is very little theoretical research on the complexity of constructing an OBDD. In this paper, we prove that the optimal variable ordering problem of a shared BDD is NP-complete, and briefly discuss the approximation hardness of this problem and related OBDD problems.

Recently, a number of concurrency control algorithms have been proposed for multidatabase system (MDBS) concurrency control methods (CCMs) and the most challenging issue of them has been a concern about how to ensure global serializability (GSR). In this paper, we examine two concurrency control algorithms of MDBS through simulation approach: optimistic ticket method (OTM) and global ticket method (GTM). In historical note, OTM is known to be the first practical solution, since this approach ensures GSR by way of automatically resolving indirect conflicts among global transactions without making any restrictions on local CCMs. However, OTM is expected to yield poor performance since it enforces all global transactions to take a local ticket which causes direct conflicts between them. In GTM, the global transaction manager in an MDBS assigns a global ticket to global transactions rather than accessing a local ticket as in OTM. Our experimental results showed that GTM outperforms OTM in cases that short timeout values are given. However, in case that the timeout value relatively becomes long, our results demonstrated that OTM outperforms GTM.

Various kinds of new architectures have been proposed to enhance operating performance of the DRAM. This paper reviews these architectures including EDO, SDRAM, RDRAM, EDRAM, and CDRAM. The EDO slightly modifies the output control of the conventional DRAM architecture. Other innovative architectures try to enhance the performance by taking advantage of DRAM's internal multiple bits architecture with internal pipeline, parallel-serial conversion, or static buffers/on-chip cache. A quantitative analysis based on an assumption of wait cycles was made to compare PC system performance with some architectures. The calculation indicated the effectiveness of external or on-chip cache. Future trends cover high-speed I/O interface, unified memory architecture, and system integrated memory. The interface includes limited I/O swing such as HSTL and SSTL to realize more than 100MHz operation. Also, Ramlink and SyncLink are briefly reviewed as candidates for next generation interface. Unified memory architecture attempts to save total memory capacity by combining graphics and main memory. Advanced device technology enables system integration which combine system logic and memory. It suggests one potential direction towards system on a chip in the future.

In the business systems design learning environment, there may be more than one solution to any given problem. For instance, the data model will be different depending on each learner's perspective. Accordingly, group learning systems are very effective in this domain. We have developed CAMELOT (Collaborative and Multimedia Environment for Learners on Teams) [18] using the Nominal Group Technique for group problem solving. In this paper, the basic framework of the collaborative learning system and the effectiveness of collaborative learning in designing the Data Model are described. By using CAMELOT, each learner learns how to analyze through case studies and how to cooperate with his or her group in problem solving. Learners come to a deeper understanding from using CAMELOT than from studying independently because they are enabled to reach better solutions through discussion, tips from other learners, and examination of one another's works.

A new superresolution technique is proposed for high-resolution estimation of the scattering analysis. For complicated multipath propagation environment, it is not enough to estimate only the delay-times of the signals. Some other information should be required to identify the signal path. The proposed method can estimate the frequency characteristic of each signal in addition to its delay-time. One method called modified (Root) MUSIC algorithm is known as a technique that can treat both of the parameters (frequency characteristic and delay-time). However, the method is based on some approximations in the signal decorrelation, that sometimes make problems. Therefore, further modification should be needed to apply the method to the complicated scattering analysis. In this paper, we propose to apply a time-domain null filtering scheme to reduce some of the dominant signal components. It can be shown by a simple experiment that the new technique can enhance estimation accuracy of the frequency characteristic in the Root-MUSIC algorithm.

We present a new method for the self-tuning control (STC) of nonminimum phase continuous-time systems based on the pole-zero placement. The long division method is used to decompose a polynomial into a stable and unstable polynomials. It is also shown that the effect of unstable zeros on the magnitude of the desired output can be cancelled. Finally, the results of computer simulation are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

We have developed the Epi-Base SATURN process as a silicon bipolar process technology which can be applied to optical transmission LSIs. This process technology, to which low temperature selective epitaxial growth technology is applied, is based on the SATURN process. By performing selective epitaxial growth for base formation in 2 steps, transistors with a 40GHz maximum cut-off frequency have been fabricated. In circuit simulation based on SPICE parameters of transistors, the target performance required for 2.4 Gbit/s optical interface LSIs has been achieved.

The coupling response of an external transient electromagnetic field to a transmission line is considered. An experiment has been conducted to verify the line equations for a transmission line excited externally by a transient near field. The model field is generated by a monopole antenna installed in the vicinity of the transmission line and driven by a step waveform. The waveform is analyzed into discrete spectrum components using a Fourier transform. The frequency-domain field components affecting the transmission line are estimated by the moment method, and then the induced frequency-domain voltage at the terminal load is converted into a time-domain voltage using an inverse Fourier transform. Comparison between the measured and the computed values provides verification of the line equations. The coupling mechanism is discussed from the experimental results. It seems equivalently that the transmission line picks up the field, generated at the feed point and the top point of the monopole antenna, at both terminal ends.

Over the past few years, many industrial processes have switched to electrical processes from conventional fossil fuel as a primary energy source, since electricity can be transmitted more economically than the transport of fossil fuels, as well as less pollution problems and labour- and spacesaving nature. For the environmental protections, ozone generation for water treatments, and decomposition of pollution gases such as SOx, NOx, COx, etc., by high pressure gas discharge processes become an important research subject. However, due to the early stage of development, the EMC problem is not yet well considered. In this review, we try to address the EMC problem in the various atmospheric pressure gas discharge processing techniques and identify future needs of research.

This paper proposes a new formulation which minimizes the differential entropy for an optimal control problem. The conventional criterion of the optimal regulator control is a standard quadratic cost function E[M{x(t)}2} + N{v(t)}2], where x(t) is a state variable, u(t) is an input value, and M and N are positive weights. However, increasing the number of the variables of the system it is complex to find the solution of the optimal regulator control. Therefore, the simplicity of the solution is required. In contrast to the optimal regulator control, we propose the minimum entropy control which minimizes a differential entropy of the weighted sum of x(t) and u(t). This solution is derived on the assumptions that the linear control and x(t)u(t) 0 are satisfied. As the result, the formula of the minimum entropy control is very simple and clear. This result will be useful for the further work with multi variables of simple control formulation.

A tree embedded in a plane can be characterized as an unrooted and cyclically ordered tree (CO-tree). This paper describes new definitions of three distances between CO-trees and their computing methods. The proposed distances are based on the Tai Mapping, the structure preserving mapping and the strongly structure preserving mapping, respectively, and are called the Tai distance (TD), the structure preserving distance (SPD) and the strongly structure preserving distance (SSPD), respectively. The definitions of distances and their computing methods are simpler than those of the old definitions and computing methods, respectively. TD and SPD by the new definitions are more sensitive than those by the old ones, and SSPDs by both definitions are equivalent. The time complexities of computing TD, SPD and SSPD between CO-trees Ta and Tb are OT (N2aN2a), OT(maNaN2b) and OT(mambNaNb), respectively, where Na(Nb) and ma(mb) are the number of vertices in tree Ta(Tb)and the maximum degree of a vertex in Ta(Tb), respectively. The space complexities of these methods are OS(NaNb).

The charge neutralized at a small gap discharge has been evaluated from measured electromagnetic fields by two methods. The small gap discharges simulate ESD events. The evaluated charge decreases rapidly as a step shape immediately in a moment of the discharge. The accumulated static charge and the risetime of the neutralization step increase with the gap length. When the gap length is 0.1mm, risetime and the initial static charge are about 0.3ns and 5.6nC, respectively.

Recently, ABR has been attracting attention as a new service category of ATM, and the methodology to realize ABR is being actively discussed in the ATM Forum. ABR is expected to become a suitable class for supporting LAN services on ATM networks. To this end, a technical foundation must be established in which bandwidth is effectively utilized and quality is guaranteed. In order for ABR to use a portion of the bandwidth that is not used by high-priority classes (CBR, VBR), it is necessary to appropriately estimate the unused portion of the bandwidth. Due to the fact that the unused portion of the bandwidth in ATM networks fluctuates, such fluctuations must be taken into account. This paper describes ABR connection admission control and design of the congestion detecting point in an ABR buffer using Allan variance of the unused portion of the bandwidth.

In this paper, we give an algorithm which, given a set F of at most (n - 1) - k faulty nodes, and two sets S = {s1,..., sk} and T = {t1,..., tk}, 1 k n - 1, of nonfaulty nodes in n-dimensional star graphs Gn, finds k fault-free node disjoint paths si tji, where (j1,..., jk) is a permutation of (1,..., k), of length at most d(Gn) + 5 in O(kn) optimal time, where d(Gn) = 3(n-1)/2 is the diameter of Gn.

A speedup of Lenstra's Elliptic Curve Method of factorization is presented. The speedup works for integers of the form N = PQ2, where P is a prime sufficiently smaller than Q. The result is of interest to cryptographers, since integers with secret factorization of this form are being used in digital signatures. The algorithm makes use of what we call Jacobi signatures. We believe these to be of independent interest.

We propose a parallel parsing algorithm based on Earley's method, which works in O(log2n) time using O(n4.752) processors on CREW PRAM. This algorithm runs with less number of precessors compared with previously proposed W. Rytter's algorithm.

In this paper, we present some contributions to improve a previous work's approach presented for the segmentation of magnetic resonance images of the human brain, based on the unsupervised Hopfield neural network. We formulate the segmentation problem as a minimization of an energy function constructed with two terms, the cost-term as a sum of errors' squares, and the second term is a temporary noise added to the cost-term as an excitation to the network to escape from certain local minimums and be more close to the global minimum. Also, to ensure the convergence of the network and its utility in clinic with useful results, the minimization is achieved with a step function permitting the network to reach its stability corresponding to a local minimum close to the global minimum in a prespecified period of time. We present here our approach segmentations results of a patient data diagnosed with a metastatic tumor in the brain, and we compare them to those obtained based on, previous works using Hopfield neural networks, Boltzmann machine and the conventional ISODATA clustering technique.