On Actors, Networks, Hybrids, Black Boxes and Contesting Programming Languages

The choice of an algorithm comes down to a question of efficiency, which is a measure of complexity of an algorithm. This paper addresses the questions of how to measure and compare the complexities of different algorithms. The aim of the study was to analyze and to comparing the complexities of tree search algorithms using software metrics approach to discover the most efficient programming language for implementing the tree search algorithms. Implementations of the algorithms were carried out using C, C++, Pascal, Visual BASIC, and Java programming languages. Complexity appraisals of the algorithms were carried out after the analyses and it was discovered that the choice of programming language affects the complexity of the tree search algorithms. The results showed that Pascal is the most efficient language for implementing Breadth-first algorithm, Java is the best for Depth-first, Java or Pascal is the best for Depth-limited while C is the best programming language for implementing A-star tree search algorithm. Visual BASIC is the worst language for implementing the entire search algorithm. It was further revealed that the entire codes are structurally and logically simple.

Teaching how to program independently of teaching a programming language has been recognized as a worthwhile goal in computer science pedagogy, but many have abandoned the goal as being impossible to achieve in practice. Jackson Structured Programming (JSP) is a well-documented and proven program design method that is independent of any programming language. CASE tools have generally been used in designing information systems rather than programs. Jackson Workbench (Keyword Computer Services Limited, 2002) is a CASE tool for designing programs (as well as information systems) that generates executable program code in several contemporary programming languages (Visual BASIC, Java, C++). Jackson Workbench contains a unique Structure Editor that uses “hotspots” to draw and syntactically validate program tree structure diagrams. As a result, the user can focus entirely on the design process, and leave the details of drawing to the CASE tool.

Three key forces are shaping the modern Computer Science (CS) curriculum: (1) new topics/courses are squeezing out existing ones; (2) a focus on "big picture" and interdisciplinary aspects of CS is leading to curricula in which the traditional core courses + electives model is being superseded by a more flexible approach based on tracks/threads; and (3) project-based courses are increasingly relying on a notion of just-in-time teaching in which particular skills are not bundled into a particular course, but are covered at a point when they are needed for particular project work. The undergraduate programming language curriculum is feeling the pressure of these forces. Core courses on programming languages and compilers are being changed to electives, relegated to a software/systems track, or phased out altogether. Particular programming languages and programming language concepts are being taught in a more piecemeal fashion on an as-needed basis. Unfortunately, these changes make it increasingly likely that CS majors can graduate without being exposed to certain "big ideas" of programming languages. Programming languages (along with many other subdisciplines of CS) contains ideas that every well-educated computer scientist needs to know and which are relevant to a wide variety of projects/careers. In a CS curriculum based on tracks and projects, how can we ensure that vital intellectual components are not lost in the shuffle? One way to think about this problem is to view the CS curriculum as a collection of aspects that can be combined in different arrangements to produce various projects/courses. In this paper, we consider the benefits and challenges of an aspect-oriented view of the CS curriculum, particularly in regard to programming language concepts.

The recent development of fast PCs with a large memory and their availability at a relatively modest cost has meant that the use of CAL (computer-aided learning), both for individuals and for institutions such as universities, has become a very realistic proposition. In this paper we demonstrate that, using new programming languages such as Visual BASIC or Multimedia Toolbook, it is possible to produce, in a relatively short space of time, packages that are clear and simple to use by students with little or no computing expertise. We describe here a short example of CAL for teaching elementary quantum mechanics which was written in Visual BASIC within the Windows environment.

PurposeThe main goal of this paper is to show how the automation of tasks in solid modelling with Catia V5 is approached, by means of macros, working under the Windows operating system and with the Visual BASIC programming language. A macro is a piece of code (written in a certain programming language) which groups a set of operations that define a certain task.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is divided into three parts. In the first one, the necessary concepts to begin working with macros are discussed: the programming languages (object‐oriented), compatible with Catia V5, are introduced. The handling of macros, like the one of the fundamental objects of the application, is explained as well. In the second part, the different objects on which the macros for solid modelling are based are described, explaining how they are used and how they are related to one another. In the third and last part, several applications which clarify the use of the studied tools, and which show the great utility of the macros, are included.FindingsUsing macros can automate design tasks which are performed repetitively, as well as carry out new operations (features) which facilitate the modelling process and which are not included in the order menu by default.Originality/valuePower and versatility of macros as a task‐automation tool is shown, as well as how simple, fast and efficient it is to program them in Visual BASIC.

Information System for Savings and Loans Cooperatives Using Visual Basic Case Studies at the Semarang Regency Regional Employment Agency is an information system created to overcome data processing problems which are still in the form of manual bookkeeping and even there is no evidence of deposit transactions, loans and installments and existing storage can be overcome by creating an information system for processing data on savings and loan cooperative transactions and creating a more secure and efficient data storage information system. Savings and loan information system design methods are made using R&D, Flowchat, DFD, ERD, and Normalization methods. The program used to create this application uses the Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 programming language and MySQL as database management. The results of this study indicate that the savings and loan cooperative information system that is applied in the Savings and Loans Cooperative of the Semarang Regency Regional Civil Service Agency can be used to process member data, process savings data, process loan data, process data that has been paid off, process SHU distribution data, and make reports. finances safely and efficiently.

Greater reliance on smart and portable electronic devices demands engineers to provide solutions with better performance and minimized demerits. Face Recognition involves the method of associating and confirming the faces. It is fit for distinguishing, following, recognizing, or checking human appearances from a picture or video caught utilizing an advanced camera. Feature extraction is the most significant stage for the achievement of the face recognition framework. The different ways of implementing this project depends on the programming language or algorithms used such as MATLAB, OpenCV, visual basics C#, Viola-Jones algorithm and many more while the core functioning remains the same. In this work, we have implemented face recognition in 3 phases, Phase1 consists of detecting faces and collecting images IDs, Phase 2 involves training the Recognizer and Separating interesting elements and the final phase includes grouping them and putting away in XML records.

A simple and selective method for the determination of urea based on the paptode technique is described. The sensor was constructed by immobilizing an ionophore on a TLC strip. The procedure is based on the nucleophilic displacement of urea with tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (chloranil) as an ionophore, and the formed violet-color product was detected using a flatbed scanner. The color of each spot was analyzed to red (R), green (G) and blue (B) values from 0 to 255 using a program written in visual basic (VB) programming language. The calibration graph obtained with the proposed sensor was linear over the range of 0.05–10.00 mg L−1 with a detection limit of 0.01 mg L−1 for urea. Parameters such as pH and concentration of chloranil were optimized. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of urea in bovine serum, urine and tap water samples.

Simulation of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell stack using AspenPlusTM unit operation models

In universities with English as the medium of instruction (EMI), boundaries between subject/content learning and language learning are crossed and the roles of content-area faculty and English for Academic Purposes faculty are bridged. In this chapter, we report on a study in which we, writing faculty/applied linguists, crossed disciplinary boundaries by working in collaboration with Information Systems (IS) professors to develop research-informed pedagogical interventions to scaffold the writing of disciplinary genres in the undergraduate IS curriculum at an American EMI university in the Middle East. Specifically, we report on how we adapted the Teaching Learning Cycle (TLC; Rothery, 1994) to scaffold the writing of the case analysis genre in two IS courses. We document the development of two students who made effective use of explicit instruction and written feedback on drafts and consulted with a writing specialist on multiple occasions in writing the case analysis. We examine the students’ texts across time and contextualize the students’ development by examining changes in their drafts based on the written feedback and one-on-one consultations with the writing specialist. Through these case studies, we argue for the importance of feedback and negotiated construction in the TLC. We also discuss the importance of crossing disciplinary boundaries in EMI contexts and the strategies we have used for promoting that boundary crossing.KeywordsTeaching learning cycleWriting developmentCase analysisExplicit instructionWritten feedbackBoundary crossing

GERD is a chronic disease that occurs when stomach acid or bile flows into the food tract and irritates its inner walls. Acid reflux and heartburn. Symptoms include heartburn that usually occurs after eating and worsens when lying down. In designing this expert system is an application used to detect GERD disease. The process of helping detect begins with the way the user answers the questions in the form of symptoms suffered by the user. This expert system is based on Android so that it can be accessed anytime and anywhere by the user and this system is built using the Java Android programming language. The conclusions that can be obtained from the results of this study include the blackbox test results showing the features of the application that are made running. An expert system application designed to be able to help detect GERD based on the symptoms entered by the user.

Expert System for diagnosing laptop damage and maintenance is an information and communication system that arises to provide solutions to a problem related to the laptop itself. This system is designed using the backward chaining method with the first dept technique as its inference engine, black box as a testing system, Microsoft access 2007 as the database and visual basic 6.0 as the programming language. Data collection was carried out for three months using interview and observation methods which were located at Central Media Computer. This research resulted in an expert system to provide information on symptoms, diagnoses and solutions to laptop damage and in the usability aspect based on testing using the Computer System Usability Questionnare produced a total score of 1538 which was converted on an index scale to a value of 85.4% included in the "Very Eligible" category.

The object-oriented theory has been widely used in software design and development and Java programming language is a popular object-oriented programming language for computer science related majors in higher education. With the huge demand for intelligent manufacturing employees in the work market, more and more universities have listed Java programming language in their curriculum for non-CS undergraduates. However, learning object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, is tough even for CS students. This paper presents how to improve non-CS undergraduate students’ learning outcomes of java language by adopting industry standard professional integrated development tool Eclipse and interactive visual educational tool BlueJ. Our Java programming language course is an alternative 8-week course including 16 h lecture and 16 h lab. Forty-seven junior students from mechanical engineering major were divided into two groups, 23 in the control group (CG) and 24 in the experimental group (EG). Students in both groups used Eclipse to write and run programs during the course while BlueJ was adopted to demonstrate the object-oriented concepts during the fifth and sixth weeks only for students in the EG. A pre-test, which was taken by students from both groups, shows no statistical differences in programming knowledge between the two groups. Results from the post-test at the end of the sixth week show students in EG achieved better performance than students in CG. Results of the survey for the EG reveal that students thought BlueJ was helpful for mastering the concepts of object-oriented programming.KeywordsJava programmingLearning outputHigher educationInteractiveVisualBlueJEclipse

The EU Green Deal mirrors the societal concern regarding climate change. In the software industry this means reducing the energy consumption of a program. This can be done by looking both at the hardware and the software used. We take a software approach and focus on the programming language choices and how a computer program is written. The programming languages we investigate are Java, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, C, C++ and C#. We compare programs from The Computer Language Benchmarks Game and these programs are divided in groups that solve the same problem.We find that the choice of programming language and the way of writing your program influences the energy consumption. The programming languages that consume the least amount of energy over all the problems are C and C++, albeit these programming languages consume more energy when compilation flags are minimized. However, in some cases we could not prove that there was a difference in the energy consumption. We also find that the hardware used to run the programs has an influence on the energy consumption. We find that the runtime of a program correlates with the energy consumption, but a shorter runtime does not necessarily result in a lower energy consumption.

Solid Earth Teaching and Research Environment (SEATREE) is a modular and user‐friendly software to facilitate the use of solid Earth research tools in the classroom and for interdisciplinary research collaboration. The software provides a stand‐alone open‐source package that allows users to operate in a “black box” mode, which hides implementation details, while also allowing them to dig deeper into the underlying source code. The overlying user interfaces are written in the Python programming language using a modern, object‐oriented design, including graphical user interactions. SEATREE, which provides an interface to a range of new and existing lower level programs that can be written in any computer programming language, may in the long run contribute to new ways of sharing scientific research. By sharing both data and modeling tools in a consistent framework, published (numerical) experiments can be made truly reproducible again.