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Autumn semester 2008

IA163 Model Driven Development for Service Oriented Platforms

Teacher: Dr. Georg Jung, Universität Potsdam
Structure: intensive course, last week in November and first week in December
Number of credits: 2 credits plus extra credits for completion
Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination) 2 credits. Alternate Types of Completion: k (colloquium) 1 credit, in the case of any other type of completion, the student only gains 2 credits.

The class follows two parallel and synergetic threads that elucidate themes in:
  • (1) Model Driven Design (MDD) and service oriented development
  • (2) Formal verification of service oriented design
Further, the class is accompanied by an example project which puts the concepts communicated in both threads into practice.
(1) MDD and applications:
  • introduction to MDD
  • overview over the aspects of modeling
  • distinction between simple, model-based, design (MBD) and extreme model driven design (XMDD)
  • discussion on the extent to which MDD ideals are implemented in current approaches (eg., UML)
  • introduction of a service-oriented modeling/development paradigm together with the jABC tool and its advantages for XMDD
  • construction of a practical model that includes the use of web-services as modeling elements
(2) Verification:
  • validation/verification of service-oriented models
  • introduction/recapitulation of calculi/formalisms for the description of temporal properties and Model Checking (MC)
  • application of these formalisms to verify the example model using different actual model checkers (built-in in the jABC and accessed as remote services)

IA164 Formal Methods for Software Engineering

Teacher: Rom Langerak, Twente University
Structure: intensive course, last week in November and first week in December
Number of credits: 2 credits plus extra credits for completion
Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination) 2 credits. Alternate Types of Completion: k (colloquium) 1 credit, in the case of any other type of completion, the student only gains 2 credits.

This course covers the use of mathematical techniques and corresponding software tools for modelling and analysis of software systems. The following topics are treated:
  • Modelling distributed system using process algebra, supported by the tool LTSA. Analysis of these models using simulation and model checking techniques.
  • The logical specification technique Z, supported by the tool Z/EVES, and the application in simple system specifications
  • the industrial specification technique SDL

IV116 Applied Bioinformatics: The Evolutionary relationships of genes and species

Teacher: Dr. Ingo Ebersberger, Dr. Greg Ewing, Universität Wien
Structure: intensive course, last week in November and first week in December
Number of credits: 2 credits plus extra credits for completion
Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination) 2 credits. Alternate Types of Completion: k (colloquium) 1 credit, in the case of any other type of completion, the student only gains 2 credits.

The assumption that all species, extant and extinct, evolved from a single common ancstor species forms the basis of phylogenetic research. By comparing both DNA and protein sequences, it is one key aspect of applied bioinformatics to reconstruct when and in which order the corresponding species have emerged. In this course we will detail on our current understanding of how biological sequences change over time. We will present methods to infer a phylogenetic tree from DNA and protein sequences and how to test the significance of this reconstruction. Particular attention will be given to how to compile an informative data set from the millions of different sequences available in the public databases. Eventually, we will discuss to what extent the evolution of biological sequences is informative for the evolution of species. The course will cover both a theory part and practical exercises where the students will have hands-on training on phylogeny reconstruction in a computer lab. The course will deal with the following topics:
  • The molecular basis of evolution. A primer of molecular genetics.
  • Introduction into basic population genetics and the coalescent model.
  • Modelling sequence evolution.
  • Methods for phylogenetic tree reconstruction.
  • Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, Bayesian Inference. Biological Sequence databases.

PV126 Typographic Programming

Teacher: Dr. Johannes Hagen
Structure: in blocks, provisionally last decade of November
Number of credits: 3 credits plus extra credits for completion
Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination) 2 credits. Alternate Types of Completion: k (colloquium) 1 credit, in the case of any other type of completion, the student only gains 3 credits.

There will be a series of meetings where the following topics will be covered:
  • TeX as language, the road from input to output, tokens and nodes.
  • Lua as language, what can it do and what not, why and how do we use it as embedded language.
  • LuaTeX as system, how does the two languages work together in opening up the typesetting engine.
  • CONTEXT MKIV as application, what kind of code is needed to permit the use of advanced font technologies, how to get away with some of TeX's limitations, what kind of technologies are needed to fulfil today's typesetting demands.
  • Typographic programming, what is it and how can it be applied in automated typesetting workflows.
In addition one of the computer rooms will be reserved so that we can practice the above and work on the products needed for the exam.

PV206 Communication and Soft Skills

Teacher: Prof. Dr. Renate Motschnig, Universität Wien
Structure: 3 blocks; 1.5 days each
Number of credits: 5 credits plus extra credits for completion
Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination) 2 credits. Alternate Types of Completion: k (colloquium) 1 credit, in the case of any other type of completion, the student only gains 5 credits.

The primary goal of this course is to allow students to improve their competence in communication, teamwork, moderation and other soft skills based on the students’ actual demands. The topics include:
  • Communication theories
  • Moderation techniques
  • Levels of learning: knowledge, skills, and attitudes
  • Active Listening
  • Person Centered Communication Groups and teams: group process, team building, self-managed teams
  • Conflict management and transformation
  • Other topics according to the participants’ expectations