Abstract
Although the take-up of formal approaches to modelling and reasoning about software has been slow, there has been recent interest and facility in the use of automated reasoning techniques such as model checking 151 oil increasingly complex systems. In the case of interactive systems, formal methods can be particularly useful in reasoning about systems that involve complex interactions. These techniques for the analysis of interactive systems typically focus on the device and leave the context of use undocumented. In this paper we look at models that incorporate complexity explicitly, and discuss how they can be used in a formal setting. The paper is concerned particularly with the type of analysis that can be performed with them.

Abstract
The problem of learning rankings is receiving increased attention from several research communities. In this paper we empirically evaluate an adaptation of the algorithm of learning decision trees for rankings. Our experiments are carried out on some metalearning problems, which consist of relating characteristics of learning problems to the relative performance of learning algorithms. We obtain positive results which, somewhat surprisingly, indicate that the method predicts more accurately the top ranks. Copyright © 2008, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

Abstract
The security problems that plague network services today are increasing at a dramatic pace especially with the constant improvement of network transmission rates and the sheer amount of data exchanged. This translates to not only more attacks but also new types of attacks with network incidents becoming more and more frequent. A substantial part of the attacks occur at Top Level Domains (TLD) who have the mission of guaranteeing the correct functioning of Domain Name System (DNS) zones. This paper presents a proposal to simplify the detection of attacks, and reduce the number of false reports (negative and positive). Our goal is to create a group of techniques for real time monitoring of network traffic, based on network sensors that allow, in real time, to detect abnormal network behaviour and produce meaningful data that can be used to trigger alarms and anticipate future problems, adding and removing rules at DNS firewalls. This sensors, are working together with the primary DNS servers of the. PT domain, currently monitor all traffic that crosses this service. The data correlation between the sensor and other sources (such as IDS, other sensors or agents), between two different dates, can then be used for statistical purposes and to prevent future possible attacks. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
In recent years, advances in software tools have made it easier to analyze interactive system specifications, and the range of their possible behaviors. However, the effort involved in producing the specifications of the system is Still Substantial. and a difficulty exists regarding the specification of plausible behaviors on the part of the user. Recent trends in technology towards more mobile and distributed Systems further exacerbates the issue, as contextual factors come in to play, and less structured, more opportunistic behavior on the part of the user makes purely task-based analysis difficult. In this paper we consider a resourced action approach to specification and analysis. In pursuing this approach we have two aims - firstly. to facilitate a resource-based analysis of user activity. allowing resources to be distributed across a number of artifacts, and secondly to consider within the analysis a wider range of plausible and opportunistic user behaviors without a heavy specification overhead, or requiring commitment to detailed user models.

Abstract
The elimination of international trade barriers, lower tariffs, and shifting centers of global manufacturing and consumption leads to new dynamics in intermodal shipping. Advanced technologies, and in particular, automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RSs) for designing high-capacity automated container terminals, have been recently proposed as possible candidates for improving the terminal's efficiency and meeting the challenges of the future in marine transportation. In this article, the authors present an analytical statistical model for computing expected cycle time of split-platform AS/RS (SP-AS/RS), in order to reduce average handling time of this system. The accuracy of the proposed statistical model is validated by Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that the analytical model is reliable for the design and analysis of the SP-AS/RS.

Abstract
This work aims to determine the effect of performing age based preventive maintenance actions on a repairable system with a constant failure rate. Periodic overhauls are carried out every time the system reaches the end of a constant time interval without failures and the system is repaired whenever a failure occurs. Performing overhauls implies interventions such as: replacement of parts with increasing hazard rate, cleaning, oiling etc. In this work, the relationship between the initial failure rate (without periodic overhauls) and the failure rate with periodic overhauls is established. © 2008 ICQR.