RESEARCH
AT
ORT BRAUDE
COLLEGE
2007-2009
RESEARCH
AT
ORT BRAUDE
COLLEGE
2007-2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE
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RESEARCH CENTERS
6
COLLEGE INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCES
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ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS
BIOTECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
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ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
18
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT
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MATHEMATICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS
38
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
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©2009
ORT Braude College
PHYSICS
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Compiled by:
Moti Elnekave
Jimmy Nishry
David Shoikhet
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING & INFORMATION SYSTEMS
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DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING
70
LIST OF RESEARCHERS
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Produced by:
ORT Braude College Office of the
Vice President for Academic Affairs
ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE CONFERS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCES (B.SC.) DEGREE IN THE FOLLOWING FIELDS:
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Applied Mathematics
Biotechnology Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Industrial Engineering and Management
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Information Systems Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Optical Engineering (as of academic year 2010/2011)
Software Engineering
The College is continually developing new study programs, in step with the country’s economic and
industrial development.
ASIDE FROM THE B.SC. DEGREES, THE COLLEGE OFFERS ITS STUDENTS, THE FOLLOWING
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:
• Pre-Academic Studies
• Practical Engineering
• Continuing Education
> Prof. Yohanan Arzi, College President
ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE
ORT Braude College (OBC) strives for excellence in teaching and research in the fields of engineering
and science. We achieve this by empowering the individual and establishing strong ties with
industry, academia and the community.
The campus is situated in the central Galilee, in the western district of the city of Karmiel. It is
spread over 25 acres on a hillside with panoramic views of the Beit Hakerem Valley and the Galilean
hills. The chosen geographic location is in direct response to national and regional needs: it serves
as an academic center for the region; increases the accessibility to higher education in the north of
the country and contributes to the educational enrichment of in the Galilee.
• Youth Center for Science Enrichment
• Teacher Certification in Science and Technology
Vision: ORT Braude College strives to be the first choice for students and faculty,
working to promote excellence in teaching and research while emphasizing each
individual’s personal needs. At the same time, the college aims to play a leading role
in community activity and the development of the Galilee.
Consistent with our vision, during the last decade research plays an important role at OBC. This
publication presents a summary of research achievements during the three-year period, 2007-2009.
Approximately 90 faculty and adjunct members took part in research, yielding 71 research areas,
167 published papers in refereed journals, and over 200 papers presented at professional national
and international conferences.
Research and involvement in related activities positions the researcher in the mainstream flow of
information regarding new developments in related fields. Being updated in current developments,
gives the researcher added validity and better academic credentials in teaching.
The College plays an important role in the development and prosperity of the Galilee and its
communities, and attracts a diverse range of students. Many choose to live in the north after
graduation.
At OBC, dedication to excellence and high academic standards provides the graduates with the
education and skills to meet their personal and professional goals in engineering and in science.
At OBC, we cultivate independent learning to prepare students for the future as engineers in a
fast-changing technological world. We invest substantial resources in training, improvement of
teaching methods and student support systems to create an environment that is both nurturing
and challenging.
Our principal goal is to continue to advance the College as a leading academic institution. To this
end, we remain committed to uncompromising academic excellence and to the cultivation of
fruitful educational experiences.
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RESEARCH CENTERS
Industrial Engineering and Management, Ort Braude College. Additional information and reports
are available at our website: http://brd4.braude.ac.il/cranet/
TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER RESEARCH ACTIVITY
THE GALILEE RESEARCH CENTER FOR APPLIED MATHEMATICS OF ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE
The Galilee Research Center for Applied Mathematics was established by the Department of
Mathematics of ORT Braude College. This Center reflects ongoing research collaboration with
universities in Israel and abroad.
Our activities include a regular seminar which hosts mathematicians from other universities in
Israel and abroad. Since 1998, we conducted seven one/two-day’s workshops and four international
conferences. The scientific program of these conferences includes 60-80 lectures of high level
mathematicians from 20-26 countries. The conferences are documented in formal proceedings,
entitled “Complex Analysis and Dynamical Systems I, II and III” published by American Mathematical
Society in the “Contemporary Mathematics” series.
The extensive collaboration with many mathematical centers in Israel and overseas is worthy of
mentioning. Among others, they include Bar-Ilan University (Ramat Gan, Israel); Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology (Haifa, Israel); Universität Potsdam, (Potsdam, Germany); Royal Institute of
Technology (Stockholm, Sweden); Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, (Rome, Italy); Instituto Politécnico
Nacional (Mexico City, Mexico); Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Madrid, Spain); Stefan Banach
International Mathematical Center (Warsaw, Poland) and University of South Florida (Tampa, USA).
The Teaching & Learning Center (TLC) was established in 2005 in conjunction with the college
strategy to promote students’ learning and thinking skills, decrease first year (freshmen) drop-out
rates, and to enhance excellence in teaching.
TLC programs include courses for learning and development of thinking skills, compulsory for all
freshmen students. Peer-lead workshops conducted by high-achieving students gather in smallgroups, forming a collaborative problem-solving setting, a program for supporting underachieving
students. In addition, personal coaching is provided by college lecturers for students with
unsatisfactory academic learning habits.
All TLC programs are closely shadowed by researched in order to assess their effectiveness and to
provide recommendations for future application. Research tries to reveal the roots of difficulties
and failure among students, deriving it’s data from participating students’ factual performance
and from perceptions of students and lecturers regarding programs’ contribution.
Research fields include Geometric Function Theory, Dynamical Systems, General Relativity, Partial
Differential Equations with applications, Functional Analysis and Nonlinear Analysis, Operator
Theory, Mathematical Control Theory, Differential Games and Optimization.
> Prof. David Shoikhet
Vice President of Academic Affairs & Director of Research
CRANET - CRANFIELD NETWORK ON COMPARATIVE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Cranet is an established group of top business schools and academic institutions, all collaborating
to provide unique and rigorous data on human resource management practices across the world.
Cranet provides a coherent and accurate picture of international and comparative Human Resource
Management (HRM). To date, 40 countries around the world belong to the project. The Centre for
European Human Resource Management at the Cranfield School of Management (UK) coordinates
the project through the collaboration of universities and business schools in the participating
countries. In Israel, Cranet project is managed by Prof. Amnon Caspi from the laboratory of human
resources at the business school, Bar Ilan University, and Dr. Hilla Peretz from the department of
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COLLEGE INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCES
• ORT Braude College Interdisciplinary Research Conference (annual event)
• The Impact of Corrosion on Environment (Feb 2009)
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TISSUE ENGINEERING OF SKELETAL MUSCLE UNDER MECHANICAL STIMULATIO
DEPARTMENT OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING
Rosa Azhari and Ehud Kroll (Technion, Israel)
Tissue Engineering aims at generating bio-artificial tissue for replacing diseased, degenerated or
damages tissue. In tissue engineering, cells are seeded on synthetic or natural scaffolds, that provide
a platform for cell proliferation and differentiation, and the constructs are grown in bioreactors. One
of the obstacles encountered in tissue engineering is the inability to obtain functional bio-artificial
tissue, with structural hierarchy and biomechanical properties identical to those of the native one.
Previous studies have demonstrated that the mechanical environment plays a critical role in tissue
development, especially in those tissues that operate in mechanically-challenging physiological settings.
This research aims to study the effects of mechanical stimulation on skeletal muscle tissue
development and organization and on the properties of the engineered muscle tissue. Hybrid Mats,
produced by electrospinning, are used as scaffolds for growing skeletal muscle tissue in a bioreactor
containing a stretching device. The device can be programmed to apply various stretching patterns
on the constructs during tissue development in the bioreactor.
Keywords: Skeletal muscle, Tissue Engineering, Mechanotransduction, Electrospinning
> Dr. Ditza Levin
D.Sc., Department Head
RESEARCH AREAS
> Prof. Rosa Azhari and Dr. Ditza Levin
at the Tissue Culture Lab.
A NOVEL METHODOLOGY IN THERAPY OF METABOLIC SYNDROME AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ADJUVANTS
Maria Grozovski, Sigal Korem, Michal Maoz and Iris S. Weitz.
Rosa Azhari and Ditza Levin.
The metabolic syndrome and high cholesterol are recognized as the two important risk factors for
the development of fatty liver disease and damage to the cardiovascular system. Therefore, much
attention has focused on its treatment. In our research we examine the therapeutic potential of an
aqueous I. viscosa extract on metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation in rats with fatty liver
and on the use of nanoformulation of statins for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Vaccine design is a major challenge in the battle against newly emerged infectious diseases
like AIDS, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and different Influenza pandemics. The development of
Immunotherapy for cancer or autoimmune diseases based on the use of a vaccination approach
is also a key line of research.
An effective vaccine is dependent on the inclusion of adjuvant in addition to the specific immunizing
pathogen or antigen. Very few adjuvants are available for human vaccines and they are limited in
their potential to dictate the desired immune response.
We study the development of an innovative generic adjuvant that will enable to direct the immune
response to the protective type against the specific pathogen or pathogenic disease. This adjuvant
is based on immuno-microspheres that are generated by a coacervation process and are composed
from a combination of different natural materials. The composition of these microspheres facilitates
the encapsulation of antigens and immunomodulators and allows binding of targeting agents to the
microspheres. The microspheres can target the antigen to professional antigen presenting cells that
are crucial for the initiation of an efficient immune response and can dictate the type of response.
Keywords: Immunology, controlled release, targeting, microencapsulation
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Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Fatty liver, Hypercholesterolemia, nanoformulation
FATE AND TRANSPORT OF NANOMATERIALS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF HOC’S
IN SOIL-WATER SYSTEMS
Isam Sabbah
The objective of this research is to determine the release points of engineered carbon nanotubes
(NPs) into the environment and the physical and chemical properties controlling the transport
and transformation of these nanomaterials and associated pollutants in environmental media.
Such studies become very relevant with the increasing implementation of wastewater recycling,
irrigation with marginal waters, etc. The work will include characterization of the size, electrical
charge/pH relationships, surface chemistry and hydraulic properties of natural and engineered NPs.
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Also new modeling approaches are proposed here to improve the understanding of the impact of
strong nonlinear sorption on rates of desorption and hence the bioavailability of contaminants
associated to NPs for a better prediction of environmental impacts.
The outcomes of this study will provide fundamental and basic physicochemical behavior of NPs
and CNTs on the transport, fate and bioavailability of HOCs in soil-water systems related to seepage
and groundwater contamination. This information is highly needed for assessing environmental
risk, and will be used by regulatory authorities to assess global changes issues in Israel and beyond.
Keywords: NP; Bioavailability; Adsorption; Groundwater
> Biotechnology Engineering Teaching and Research - Immunology Lab
MOLECULAR MODELING OF POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS
Dafna Knani and D. Alperstein (Department of Mechanical Engineering)
> Dr. Isam Sabbah
at the Chromatography Lab
NATURAL PRODUCTS POSSESSING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
Tova Cohen, Michal Maoz and Iris S. Weitz.
There is ongoing research on plant extracts that acquire biological activity. Natural materials are
extracted in our labs and some are commercials. The following research topics involve natural extracts:
Some examples of research projects in this field are:
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENZYME GLUCOSE FUEL CELL
1. Computational research of the interaction of CNTs with various molecules which may serve as
surfactants, used for improving CNTs dispersion in aqueous media.
2. Computational research of the interactions between various organogelator molecules in
polymer matrix. Understanding the characteristics of known gelators will enable to develop
new oganogelators that can be used for Introducing new properties to the polymer matrix at a
nanometric scale.
3. Investigation of peroxide crosslinking of a styrene - free unsaturated polyester alkyd. The research is
focused on network analysis by Monte Carlo simulation technique and crosslinking mechanism using
quantum mechanics codes.
4. Molecular Modeling of Charges Biopolymers Interactions. In this study, the interactions between
two biopoymers, gelatin (positively charged) and chondroitin sulphate (negatively charged) in aqueous
media are investigated.
Lea. Mor, and Zeev. Rubin (Department of Physics)
Keywords: molecular modeling, organogelator, carbon nanotube, charged biopolymers
a. Antifungal activity against dermatophytes and wood decay fungi
b. Inhibition of cancer cell cultures
c. Synergism: treatment with combination of natural materials
d. Active materials extraction from the plants` soil, without harming the plant
e. New approach to dissolve natural extracts in water, which naturally dissolve only in organic
solvents, while conserving their biological activity
f. Formulation of water soluble metallic oxide nanoparticles with antifungal agents
Keywords: natural products, metallic oxide nanoparticles, fungicide, wood preservative
This research is part of an effort to develop a glucose-fuelled fuel cell. To study the resistivity of the fuel
cell, experimental and theoretical considerations of the electrode and the electrolyte solution were
studied. A model was adopted to relate fuel cell conductivity to fuel and electrolyte concentrations. The
results showed that the resistivity increased with an increase in the glucose concentration. The physical
properties of the species (i.e. radii, thermal velocity) and the chemical equilibrium constant of the reaction
that glucose undergoes in an alkaline solution can be estimated by comparing the experimental results
with the theory. An enzyme electrode for the glucose fuelled fuel cell was developed. The electrode
consisted of an enzyme coupled to a gold or silver coated carbon film. The fuel cell was characterized
for its conductivity, and the coupled enzyme was characterized for its activity and stability.
Keywords: glucose fuel cell, electrolyte, conductivity, coupled enzyme
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Molecular modeling research is performed using state of the art software techniques: Molecular
mechanics and dynamics models are used for prediction and analyzing polymers properties and polymer
- additives blends; Quantum mechanics enables calculation of reaction profiles and energies. Coursegrained models are used for polymer - polymer blends miscibility; QSAR software is used for prediction
of properties by studying the correlations between molecular parameters and a property of interest.
Molecular modeling of Chondroitin
sulphate –Water - Gelatin cell
Molecular modeling of CNT
and anthracene molecule
Molecular modeling of amorphous
cell Containing polypropylene and
the organogelator DBS
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CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
WASTEWATER AND ORGANIC WASTE EQUAL FOOD AND ENERGY
Joint conference with the Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, 2009
http://conferences.braude.ac.il/environmentalIndustry10/Default.aspx
WOOD MICROBIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, 2008
http://www.braude.ac.il/Apps/WW/Page.aspx?ws=881d3d84-752a-45e1-8d3b350f6d7697da&page=213ebdb0-2b46-4fd8-a811-0a410e08cae4
TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT THE INDUSTRY IS NOT THE ENEMY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Joint conference with the Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, 2008
http://conferences.braude.ac.il/environmentalIndustry/Default.aspx
REFEREED PAPERS
D. Levin, R. DiPaolo, C. Brinster, J. M. Revilleza, L. F. Boyd, L. Teyton, K. Natarajan, M. G. Mage, E. M.
Shevach and D. H. Margulies, Availability of Autoantigenic Epitopes Controls Phenotype, Severity,
and Penetrance in TCR Transgenic Autoimmune Gastritis, Eur. J. Immunol. 38, 2008, 3339-3353.
L. Mor, Z. Rubin and P. Schechner, Measuring Open Circuit Voltage in Glucose Alkaline Fuel Cell
Operated as a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor, Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, 5(1),
914503, 2008, 1-4.
O. Hussein, M. Grozovski, S. Schlesinger, S. Svalb and N. Assy, Orlistat Reverse Fatty Infiltration and
Improves Hepatic Fibrosis in Obese Patients with Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), Journal
Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 52(10), 2007, 2512-2519.
O. Hussein, M. Grozovski, E. Lasri, S. Svalb and N. Assy, Monounsaturated Fat Decrease Hepatic
Lipid Content in Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats, World Journal of Gastroenterology, 13(3),
2007, 361-368.
N. Massalha, S. Basheer, and I. Sabbah, Effect of Adsorption and Bead Size of Immobilized Biomass
on the Rate of Biodegradation Of Phenol at High Concentration Levels, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 46, 2007,
6820-6824.
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
A. Abid, O. Taha, W. Nseir, R. Farah, M. Grozovski and N. Assy, Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with
Fatty Liver Disease Independently by Metabolic Syndrome, Journal of Hepatology, 51(5), 2009, 918-924.
Z. Ackerman, M. Oron-Herman O. Pappo, E. Peleg, R. Safadi, H. Schmilovitz-Weiss and M. Grozovski,
Hepatic Effects of Rosiglitazone in rats with the Metabolic Syndrome, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology
& Toxicology, accepted for publication, 2009.
N. Assy, Z. Beniashvili, A. Djibre, G. Nasser, M. Grozovski and W. Nseir, Lower Baseline ALT Cut-Off
Values and HBV DNA Levels Better Differentiate HBeAg Chronic Hepatitis B Patients from Inactive
Chronic Carriers, World Journal of Gastroenterology, 15(24), 2009, 3025-3031.
D. Alperstein, N. Kornberg and D. Knani, A Study of Fire Retardant Blooming In HIPS By Molecular
Modeling, Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 20, 2009, 1–6.
N. Assy, A. Djibre, M. Grozovski, R. Farah, F. Nassar and A. Marmor, Presence of Coronary Plaques in
Patients with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, (NAFLD) Radiology, 2009 (In press).
N. Assy, G. Nasser, F. Nassar and M. Grozovski, Olive Oil Consumption and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Disease, World Journal of Gastroenterology,
15(15), 2009, 1809-1815.
I. Mironi-Harpaz, D. Alperstein, D. Knani and M. Narkis, Curing of Styrene-Free Unsaturated Polyester
Alkyd: Synthesis, Characterization and Simulation, Polymer International, accepted for publication, 2009.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
M. Borisover, A Sas, I. Sabbah, and G. Lavie, Characterization of Effluent DOM using Fluorescence
Spectroscopy, Water and Irrigation, 506, (Hebrew), 2009, 26-32.
A. Khatib, F. Aqra, N. Yagi, S. Basheer, I. Sabbah, B. Al-Hayek, and M. Musa, Environmental Pollution
Resulting from Olive Oil Production in Palestine, South. Braz. J. Chem., 17(17), 2009.
A. Khatib, F. Aqra, N. Yagi, Y. Subuh, B. Hayeek, M. Musa, S. Basheer, and I. Sabbah, Reducing the
Environmental Impact of Olive Mill Wastewater, Amer. J. Environ. Sci., 5(1), 2009, 1-6.
N. Assy, F. Nassar and M. Grozovski, Monosaturated Fat Enriched with Olive Oil in Non Alcoholic Fatty
Liver Disease, chapter in book, Olives and Oil in Health and Disease Prevention, Life Science, San Diego,
CA, USA, (In press, 2009).
I. Sabbah and A. Rayan, Wastewater Treatment in The Arab villages, Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies,
2007 (Book in Hebrew) http://www.jiis.org.il/imageBank/File/publications/isam-eng.pdf.
E. Krasnits, E. Friedler, I. Sabbah, M. Beliavski, S. Tarre, and M. Green, Spatial Distribution of microbial
population in a well established constructed wetland treating municipal wastewater, J. Ecological
Eng., 35, 2009, 1085-1089.
M. Sammar, C. Sieber and P. Knaus, Biochemical and Functional Characterization of the Ror2/Brib
Receptor Complex, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 381, 2009, 1–6.
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING AND ABSTRACTS
Z. Ackerman, M. Grozovski, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, B.A. Sela and G. Amir, Effects of Amlodipine,
Captopril and Bezafibrate on Splenic Histology and Splenocytes Apoptosis in Rats with Fatty Liver,
The 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Copenhagen,
Denmark, 2009.
N. Assy, G. Nasser, I. Kamayse, W. Nseir and M. Grozovski, Soft Drink Consumption Linked with Fatty
Liver Independently by Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosis, The 44th Annual Meeting of the European
Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Copenhagen, Denmark, 2009.
K. Baransi, Y.Dubowski and I. Sabbah, Synergetic Effect of Photocatalytic Degradation and
Adsorption Processes on the Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Agro-Industrial Effluent,
Xenowac-2009 Conference, Cyprus, 2009.
A. Djibre, A. Marmor, M. Grosovski, R. Farah, F. Nassar and N. Assy, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
and Sub Clinical Coronary Atherosclerosis, The Annual Meeting of the Israeli Society for Research,
Prevention and Treatment of Liver Disease, Kfar Blum, Israel, 2009.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, D. Daod, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Association Between Excessive Soft Drink
Consumption and Coronary Artery Disease and Early Atherosclerosis, the 5th International Seoul
Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, R. Farah, F. Nassar, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
and Sub Clinical Coronary Atherosclerosis, 3rd International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic
Syndrome, Nice, France, 2009.
D. Knani and D. Alperstein, In Silico Studies of 1,3:2,4-Dibenzylidene-D-Sorbitol as a Gelator for
Polypropylene, NanoIsrael 2009, Jerusalem, 2009.
M. Maoz, C. Freitag and J. J. Morrell, Potential Synergy between Natural Product Extracts for Limiting
Fungal Decay.Preservation, document No. IRG/WP/09-30495, Stockholm, Sweden. 2009, (8 pages).
N. Massalha, M. Green and Sabbah I., Combined CEPT with Intermittent Bio-Filter for WWT in Rural
Areas, the 6th Israeli Water Association, Israel, 2009.
B. Royman, A. Marmor, A. Dvorin, M. Grozovski, M. Daitzman and N. Assy, Fatty Liver Predicts the
Presence of Coronary Plaques and Early Atherosclerosis Independently by Visceral Fat Accumulation,
the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the study of liver disease, Boston, USA, 2009.
I. Sabbah, Agro-Industrial Wastewater is Good Biogas Source, Terni, Italy, 2009, (Invited talk).
I. Sabbah and N. Massalha, Development of Biomass Adaptation for the Treatment of Strong Wastewater
(Agro-Industrial) Olive Mill Waste (OMW) as a Model, the 6th Israeli Water Association, Israel, 2009.
I. Sabbah, W. P. Ball, P. C. D’Adamo and E. J. Bouwer, Modeling the Effect of Aging on Naphthalene and
Phenanthrene Desorption Rates from Environmental Solids, Xenowac-2009 Conference, Paphos, Cyprus, 2009.
M. Grozovski, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, B. A. Sela, G. Amir and Z. Ackerman, Effects of
Amlodipine, Captopril and Bezafibrate on Splenic Histology and Splenocytes Apoptosis in Rats with
Fatty Liver, the 5th International Seoul Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
Z. Ackerman, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, O.Pappo, G.Link, B.Sela and M. Grozovski, Hepatic Effects
of Rosiglitazone in Rats with the Metabolic Syndrome, the 43rd Annual Meeting of the European
Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Milan, Italy, 2008.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, R. Farah, F. Nassar, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
and Sub Clinical Coronary Atherosclerosis, 3rd International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic
Syndrome, Nice, France, 2009.
Z. Ackerman, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, O. Pappo, G. Link, B. Sela and M. Grozovski, Hepatic
Effects of Rosiglitazone in Rats with the Metabolic Syndrome, the Annual Meeting of the Israeli Society
for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Liver Disease, Israel, 2008.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, D. Daod, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Association Between Excessive Soft Drink
Consumption and Coronary Artery Disease and Early Atherosclerosis, the 5th International Seoul
Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
N. Assy, S. Dabush, T. Ali, M. Grozovski and F. Nassar, Serum Cholesterollevels at Week 4 as a Predictor of
Sustained Viral Response in Patients with Chronic Hpatitis C Infection, the 15th International Symposium
on Hepatitis C Virus& Related Viruses, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 2008.
M. Grozovski, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, B. A. Sela, G. Amir and Z. Ackerman, Effects of Amlodipine,
Captopril and Bezafibrate on Splenic Histology and Splenocytes Apoptosis in Rats with Fatty Liver, the
5th International Seoul Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
N. Assy, G. Nasser, I. Kamayse, W. Nseir and M. Grozovski, Soft drink Consumption Linked with Fatty Liver
(NASH and NAFLD) in Patients with No Obvious Traditional Risk Factors, International Liver Congress (ICL),
Hong Kong,China, 2008.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, R. Farah, F. Nassar, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
and Sub Clinical Coronary Atherosclerosis, 3rd International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic
Syndrome, Nice, France, 2009.
N. Assy, T. Shatil and M. Grozovski, The effect of Insulin Sensitizing Agents (ISA) on “Protein C”
and on Paraoxonase mRNA expression in rats with fatty Liver, the 3rd International Falk Symposium,
Mainz, Germany, 2008.
M. Grozovski, G. Lipez and N. Assy, Effect of Insulin Sensitizing Agents (ISA) on Hepatic “Protein C”
and Paraoxonase m-RNA Expression in Rats with Fatty Liver, the 19th Conference of the APASL, Hong
Kong SAR, China. 2009
M. Grozovski, T. Shatil, Z. Beniashvili, S. Korem and N. Assy, Retinol Binding Protein 4 Expression is Up
Regulated in Rats with Fatty Liver During Quiescent and Regenerative State and Improves with Insulin
Sensitizing Agents, International Liver Congress (ICL). Hong Kong, China, 2008.
M. Grozovski, A. Djibre, D. Daod, A. Marmor and N. Assy, Association Between Excessive Soft Drink
Consumption and Coronary Artery Disease and Early Atherosclerosis, the 5th International Seoul
Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
M. Grozovski, T. Shatil, Z. Beniashvili, S. Korem and N. Assy, Retinol Binding Protein 4 Expression is Up
Regulated in Rats with Fatty Liver During Quiescent and Regenerative State and Improves with Insulin
Sensitizing Agents, The 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver
(EASL), Milan, Italy, 2008.
M. Grozovski, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, B. A. Sela, G. Amir and Z. Ackerman, Effects of Amlodipine,
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Captopril and Bezafibrate on Splenic Histology and Splenocytes Apoptosis in Rats with Fatty Liver, the
5th International Seoul Liver Symposium Liver, Seoul, Korea, 2009.
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Z. Rubin and L. Mor, Electrode Resistance Dependence on Alkaline Glucose Fuel Cell Electrolyte
Concentration, Fundamentals and Developments of Fuel Cells, (FDFC 2008), Nancy, France, 115-116, 2008.
H. Kliman, H. Meiri and M. Samar, Galectins, chemokines and trophoblast invasion IFPA Meeting 2008
Workshops Report.
Z. Beniashvilli, M. Grozovski, S. Daboush, P. Erdstein and N. Assy, The Use of New Normal ALT Values
Differentiate Better HBeAg (-) Chronic Hepatitis B From Inactive Carrier State, the 58th annual meeting
of the American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases, Boston, USA, 2007.
Z. Beniashvili, O. Hussein, M. Grozovski, S. Dabush, B. Hino and N. Assy, HBV DNA Levels at Different
Clinical Stages of Chronic HBV (CHB), the annual meeting of the Israeli Society for Research,
Prevention and Treatment of Liver Disease, Tiberius, Israel, 2007.
M. Grozovski, M. Oron-Herman, T. Rosenthal, O. Pappo, G. Link, B. Sela and Z. Ackerman, Effect of
Amlodipine, Captopril and Bezafibrate on Oxidativemilieu in Rats with Fatty Liver, the 2nd International
Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome, Barcelona, Spain,2007.
M. Grozovski, T. Shatil, S. Korem, Z. Beniashvili and N. Assy, Increased Serum and Hepatic RBP 4 Level:
an Additional Risk Factor for Experimental Fatty Liver Disease, The 3rd ORT Braude College Research
Conference, Hagoshrim, Israel, 2007.
O. Hussein, K. Abu Gabai, M. Grozovski, I. Bersudsky, N. Assy, R. Karry and M. Aviram, The Effect of Insulin
Sensitizers (Rosiglitazone and Metformin), Ezetimibe and Valsartan (Each Alone or in Combination)
on Plasma Paraoxonase Activity and mRNA Expression in Experimental Rat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Disease, the 12TH annual meeting of the Israeli Society for Research, Prevention and Treatment of
Atherosclerosis in conjunction with the Frontiers in Cardiovascular Science, Eilat, Israel, 2007.
O. Hussein, K. Abu Gabai, M. Grozovski, I. Bersudsky, N. Assy, R. Karry and M. Aviram, The Effect of Insulin
Sensitizers (Rosiglitazone and metformin), Ezetimibe and Valsartan (Each Alone or in Combination)
on Plasma Paraoxonase Activity and mRNA Expression in Experimental Rat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Disease, the 16th International Symposium on Drugs Affecting Lipid Metabolism, New York, USA, 2007.
D. Knani, M. Shilo and R. Azhari, Molecular Modeling of Gelatin and Chondroitin Sulfate Interactions
in Aqueous Medium, the 6th annual meeting of ICRS, Caesarea, September 2007.
D. Knani and D. Alperstein, In Silico Studies of 1,3:2,4-Dibenzylidene-D-Sorbitol as a Gelator for
Polypropylene, the 1st workshop on Multiscale Modeling of Nanostructured and Functional
Polymeric Materials, Brno, Czech Republic, October 2007.
M. Maoz, I. S. Weitz, M. Blumenfeld, C. Freitag, and J. J. Morrell, Antifungal Activity of Plant Derived
Extracts Against G. Trabeum IRG 38, the International Research Group on Wood Preservation, USA, 2007.
I. Sabbah and A. Yazbak, Decreasing the Start-Up Period of Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor for
the Biodegradation of Olive Mill Wastewater, paper and poster presentation at the New Technologies
for the Treatment and Valorization of Agro by Products Conference, Terni, Italy, 2007.
T. Shatil, S. Korem, N. Assy, Z. Beniashvili and M. Grozovski, The Effect of Antidiabetic Agents on Hepatic
Retinol Binding Protein 4 Expression and Lipid Metabolism in Rats with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Undergoing
Partial Hepatectomy, the 12TH annual meeting of the Israeli Society for Research, Prevention and Treatment
of Atherosclerosis in conjunction with the Frontiers in Cardiovascular Science, Eilat, Israel, 2007.
T. Shatil, S. Korem, N. Assy, Z. Beniashvili and M. Grozovski, The Effect of Antidiabetic Agents and
Partial Hepatectomy on the Retinol Binding Protein Level Expression in Rats with Non-Alcoholic Fatty
Liver Disease Undergoing Partial Hepatectomy, 6th ICRS annual meeting, Caesarea, Israel, 2007.
16
17
RESEARCH AREAS
DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRICAL AND
ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
FUEL CELLS
Eugenia Bubis, Pinchas Shechner, Hana Feiger (Department of Biotechnology), Lea Mor (Department
of Biotechnology) and Zeev Rubin (Department of Physics).
Electrochemical characterization and development of environmentally-friendly Alkaline Fuel
Cell (‘batteries’), including advanced electrodes. The device is able to convert chemical energy
stored in sugar (and other Saccharides) into electrical energy. The research focuses on parameter
optimizations, such as: the electro-catalytic anode, an electro-catalytic cathode and the electrolyte.
Peak Power Density of 14.8 W/m2 has been obtained. This work yielded several patent applications.
Keywords: Fuel Cells, Sugar, Human Friendly
> Dr. Shmuel Miller
Ph.D., Department Head
> Fuel Cell Laboratory
SOLID STATE DEVICES
Radu Florescu and Rona Sarfaty.
Development via advanced of solid-state devices, including photo-voltaic cells, simulation and
characterization of the devices via advanced work-stations. The photo-voltaic cells are developed
in collaboration with Tel Aviv University (TAU) Engineering Department, funded by the chief
scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Infrastructures.
Device structure, physical modeling and process simulations are carried out using the Synopsys
TCAD Sentaurus Tools. Feasibility and realization of prototype of a Novel design of high-voltage
and higher efficiencies cells for concentrating photovoltaic, are carried out using outsourced Fabs,
funded by the Israeli Ministry of Infrastructures.
Simulation results for Si cells predict efficiencies above 30% under 1000suns concentration. World
record is currently about 27%.
Keywords: Photo-voltaic (PV), Vertical Multi-Junction, CPV (Concentrated PV), Monolithic
18
19
ANALOG AND DIGITAL DESIGN
Emma Elkind, Michael Gladshtein and Samuel Kosolapov.
Design, development and implementation of advanced digital systems, based on programmable
devices (FPGA, mixed signal microcontrollers and DSP) and on Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (QCA).
The recent projects are: 3D Structure-Light Scanner, Image Processing Algorithms for 3D and Stereo
Vision, Driverless USB-HID microcontroller-PC communication. Intellectual sensors for security
systems, Decimal arithmetic unit design for a QCA nanocomputer. In the last project we investigated
a new approach to construction of decimal nanocomputer based on using of the Johnson-Mobius
code. Number of QCA decimal Johnson-Mobius adder structural solutions are successfully simulated,
aided the program tools “QCA Designer”.
Keywords: Nanocomputer, image processing, microcontroller, programmable device, 3D Image Processing, USB-HID
> Solid-State Devices Characterization Laboratories
COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAL PROCESSING
Samuel Kosolapov and Shmuel Y. Miller.
This research area includes modeling and real-time simulations of communication signalprocessing functions (up-to a full Modem), and development of advanced temporal and spatial
signal processing algorithms for image processing applications.
Development of Modem functions including synchronization, phase tracking, amplitude estimation,
and space-time MIMO receiver processing. In addition, wireless sensor networks (WSN) comparative
performance evaluation for several PHY- radio and MAC protocols.
Feasibility evaluation of driverless USB-HID protocol for PC-Microcontroller communication and of
Intrusion Alarm system based of 3D/Stereo camera.
Keywords: Modems, Linearization, Image processing, WSN, USB-HID, 3D Camera, Stereo Vision
> Analog and Digital Design
OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Shmuel Y. Miller, Rona Sarfaty, and Pinchas Schechner.
Enhancement of the dynamic range for intensity modulated laser optical fiber communication links.
This will improve the overall performance (mainly range and number of multiplexed signals) of analog
optical fiber links. Another area of research involves optical multiplexing of a number of wireless radio
information channels.
Keywords: E/O Converters, ALC, Multiplexing
> Communication and signal Processing Laboratories
20
> Optical Communication
21
ANTENNAS AND MICROWAVE
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
Shmuel Y. Miller and Albert Sabban.
One area of research focuses on modeling, simulations and prototyping of antennas and microwave
components, with emphasis on classes of micro strip antennas. Another area focuses on the analysis of
antennas in the vicinity of in-vivo biological tissues. This research considers the near-field effects in the
operation of antennas, including their impedance, radiation characteristics and MEG.
Another research area involves the development of lumped models for microwave elements (transmission
lines, couplers, etc.) and antennas and prediction of their performance parameters using the lumped models.
Y. Rosenwaks, G. Segev, R. Pozner, R. Sarfaty, and A. Kribus, Monolithic Vertical Multijunction
Concentrator Cells, CPV-6. international conference on concentrating photovoltaic systems.
G. Segev, A. Kribus, R. Pozner, R. Sarfaty, and Y. Rosenwaks, CPV Modules based on Monolithic Vertical
Multijunction Cells, 16th Sede Boker symposium on solar electricity production.
Keywords: Near field, Impedance, Lumped models, SAR (specific absorption rate), MEG (mean effective gain)
PUBLISHED BOOKS
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
COMMUNICATIONS TOWARDS CONVERGENCE IN SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY
Developments in communications approaching the 4th generation, Participants from high-tech
industries, government and academia, March, 2007, OBC.
REFEREED PAPERS
M. Gladshtein, Algorithmic Synthesis of a Combinational Adder of Decimal Digits Encoded by the
Johnson–Mobius Code, Avtomatika i Vychislitel’naya Tekhnika, 5, 2009, 14-23, (in Russian), Automatic
Control and Computer Science, 5, 2009, 233 236, (in English).
M. Gladshtein, Intellectual Automatic Control Systems for Lighting Control, Electronic Components,
3, 2009 (in Russian).
N. Sabag and E. Trotskovsky, Internship in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, MoreTech. Journal
of National Center of Technology Teachers. 2009, 14–18.
M. Gladshtein, Using MCUs and DSPs for Control of Power Devices, Electronic Components, 7, 2008,
42-50, (in Russian).
M. Gladshtein, Embedded Electronic Systems: State, Issues and Prospects, Electronic Components,
5, 2008, 20-32, (in Russian).
L. Mor, Z. Rubin and P. Schechner, Measuring Open Circuit Voltage in a Glucose Alkaline Fuel Cell
Operated as a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor, Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology 5, 1, 2008.
M. Gladshtein, The Power Saving Techniques for Embedded Microelectronic Systems, Electronic
Components, 12, 2007,1-5, (in Russian).
M. Gladshtein, New Microcontrollers of Mixed Signal, Electronic Components, 7, 2007, 56-64, (in Russian).
P. Schechner, E. Kroll, E. Bubis, S. Chervinsky and E. Zussman, Silver-plated Electrospun Fibrous Anode
for Glucose Alkaline Fuel Cells, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 154, 9, 2007.
22
M. Gladshtein, Silicon Laboratories Mixed Signal Microcontrollers C8051Fxxx and their using: User’s
Manual, Moscow, DODECA, 336 pp., 2008.
S. Y. Miller and J. Shapira, CDMA Radio with Repeaters, Series Editors: Prof. Robert Gallager (MIT)
and J. Keil Wolf (UCSD), Springer, NY, 2007.
REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
N. Sabag and M. Maoz, The Influence of Dynamic Assessment and Instrumental Enrichment Course
on Student Achievements – Case Study, accepted for publication in Iyunim.
S. Y. Miller, Characterizing Finite Uniform Cascade of Two-Port Network, CISSE2009 conference,
Bridgeport, CT, USA, 2009
N. Sabag and Y. Dupelt, Chronology of Change Assimilation in Technology Education – Case Study,
MoreTech. Journal of National Center of Technology Teachers. 2009.
N. Sabag and E. Trotskovsky, Internship in Engineering Design at Hi–Tech Industries: Practice and
Theory, Industry – Academy Conference ORT Braude College. 2009.
S. Kosolapov and N. Sabag, Time-Effective Logistics of Electronically Signed Laboratory Results
Reporting, 2009 American Society for Engineering Education, Northeast Section Conference,
Bridgeport, CT, USA, 2009.
R. Sarfaty, V. Timofeev, L. Grinberg, R. Pozner, G. Segev, Y. Rosenwaks and A. Kribus, Development of
Three Dimensional (3D), High Efficient, Vertical Junctions (VJ) Solar Cells, The 14th Israel Materials
Engineering Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2009
Y. Rosenwaks, G. Segev, R. Pozner, R. Sarfaty, and A. Kribus, Vertical Junction Photovoltaic Cells,
invited talk, The 28th IVS Annual Conference & Technical Workshop, October 15, 2009.
G. Segev, R. Pozner, L. Grinberg, R. Sarfaty, A. Kribus, and Y. Rosenwaks, Vertical Junction Photovoltaic
Cell for Concentrating PV, the 28th IVS Annual Conference & Technical Workshop, 2009.
23
P. Schechner, Glucose Fuel Cells, 5th Chemical Engineering Conference for Collaborative Research
in Eastern Mediterranean Countries, Cetraro, Italy, 2008, (invited dissertation).
N. Thirer and R. Florescu, A New UART Controller, 4th International Conference of Informatics in
Control, Automation and Robotics, France, 2007.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND ABSTRACTS
P. Schechner, E. Kroll, H. Feiger and E. Bubis, Saccharied Fueled Fuel Cell, Universidad de Costa Rica,
2009. (Invited Dissertation).
S. Prilutsky, E. Bubis, P. Schechner, E. Zussman and Y. Cohen, Composite Carbon Nanofibers with
Carbon Nanotubes, 46th Conference of the Israel Institute of Chemical Engineers, Tel Aviv, 2008.
P. Schechner, E. Kroll, E. Zussman, H. Faiger and E. Bubis, Electricity from Glucose Fuelled Fuel Cells,
46th Conference of the Israel Institute of Chemical Engineers, Tel Aviv, 2008.
P. Schechner, E. Bubis, H. Faiger, E. Zussman and E. Kroll, Glucose Oxidation by Nano-Fibrous Anodes
in a Fuel Cell, 9th Biennial ASME Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA08,
Haifa, 2008.
PATENTS
P. Schechner, E. Kroll, E. Bubis, S. Chervinsky and E. Zussman, A Fibrous Anode with High Surface to
Volume Ratio for Fuel Cells and a Fuel Cell with such Anode, PCT/IB2008/000065, 2008.
S. Kosolapov, Color Edge Based System and Method for Determination of 3D Surface Topology, US
Patent, US 7,456,842 B2, 2008
P. Schechner, E. Kroll, E. Bubis, S. Chervinsky and E. Zussman, A Method to Extract Electrical Power
from Glucose, P.P.A. # 60/884,714, USA., 2007.
A. Kribus, Y. Rosenwaks, R. Sarfaty and G. Segev, High Voltage PV Cells,
US patent No. 497955 Provisional.
24
25
DEPARTMENT OF
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
& MANAGEMENT
extent and effectiveness of the TI process in businesses. The model enables various businesses
to be compared, so that weaknesses and strengthens are highlighted and recommendations
for improving the TI process can be made. The proposed model is implemented in industrial
companies and service providers in the Galilee – the northern region of the State of Israel. We are
investigating the inter-relationships between the TI process measures, and also between these
measures and other business parameters. In addition, we are interested in comparing the current
technological innovation achievements of the companies with their goals.
Keywords: Technological Innovation, Performance Measurement, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Data Envelopment Analysis
COST ESTIMATION IN A CAPACITATED ENVIRONMENT
Yohanan Arzi
As the world has turned into a global village and firms compete in the worldwide market,
accurate estimation of product costs becomes very important. Good product cost estimations
provide advantage in various decision-making processes. During the last two decades, the
relative weight of direct costs in manufacturing has dramatically diminished, while the relative
weight of indirect costs has increased. Therefore, allocating indirect costs to products, without
taking into account the shop floor capacity, may lead to erroneous estimations. Despite
this, most of the existing cost estimating models assume unlimited shop floor capacity. The
commonly used methods assume sufficient available capacity. However, in practice, capacity is
limited and workloads are dynamic and may change over time. Our research is concentrating
in developing methods and tools for estimating the total cost of a new order in a stochastic
manufacturing system with finite capacity.
> Dr. Shuki Dror
Ph.D., Department Head
Keywords: Cost Estimation, Capacity Planning, Financial Models
CAUSALITY RESEARCH IN THE PERFORMANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION
Shuki Dror
> Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)lab,
in conjunction with the Department of
Mechanical Engineering
RESEARCH AREAS
Construction of a causal model is the objective of many empirical researches and particularly in the
domain of social and behavioral sciences. In these research studies, the causal modeling has two main
stages. In the first stage ‘latent variables’ are created and in the second stage ‘structural equations’
are estimated. We deem that empirical researches focus on the question “which” relationships
exists and not on “why” and “when” they occur. The present work builds on the findings of past
studies to develop generic frameworks used to construct causal models for a specific organization.
Quality function deployment, fuzzy set theory, analysis of variance and statistical process control are
the tools we use to support the developed methodology.
Keywords: Causality, QFD, fuzzy logic, SPC
QUALITY ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION MEASUREMENT
Yohanan Arzi
Technological Innovation (TI) is a process of acquiring new or improved capabilities, or providing
increased value for customers. Managing the TI process requires quantitative measurement of
its extent and effectiveness. We developed a three-level model for quantitatively measuring the
26
Emil Bashkansky, Shuki Dror, Tamar Gadrich and Rachel Ravid
The research focuses on effective methods of evaluation, statistical control and prediction of quality
measured on an ordinal scale basis. Such scales are also widely used in other fields of quality
engineering: customer satisfaction surveys, FMECA and risk analysis, defects and quality classification,
statistical process control, QFD and others. In turn, design and analysis of optimal curtailed inspection
schemes for such scales enables effective quality data mining from quality inspection reports. Some
27
of the developed methods are ready for immediate industrial application and were applied for decision
making in patient involved health care process, product quality classification and metrology.
LINE BALANCING
Keywords: Quality control, evaluation, prediction, ordinal
Establishing technology profitability index and incorporating it into the House of Quality scheme.
Such index should not only describe the profitability of a given technology in microeconomic sense,
but should also deal with the environmental impact of the technology, and the effect on public
goods due to the employment of this technology.
Production or assembly line balancing is assigning work elements and resources to workstations in
the line so that the workload at all workstations will be equal. In particular, one research direction is
balancing a robotic assembly line. The robotic assembly line balancing (RALB) is the problem where
different robots may be assigned to the assembly tasks, and each robot needs different assembly
times to perform a given task, because of its capabilities and specialization. The solution to the
RALB problem includes an attempt for optimal assignment of robots to line stations and a balanced
distribution of work among different stations. A genetic algorithm was used to find a solution to
this problem.
Keywords: Quality function deployment, environment requirements, economic analysis
Keywords: Line balancing, robotic assembly lines, genetic algorithms
SERVICE ENGINEERING
INTERPRETATION OF MARKETING MESSAGES
Shuki Dror, Tamar Gadrich, Maya Kaner and Reuven Karni (Shenkar College)
Arie Maharshak
Service engineering is a discipline concerned with the systematic development and design of
services using engineering models, methods and tools (e.g. in our case conceptual models, design
of experiments and simulation). We focus on conceptual service models referring to a high-layer
generic service concept rather than operational models derived from the generic service concept
scheme (e.g. specific emergence department processes designed basing on the generic scheme of
such processes).
The present study is focused on the theoretical explanation of advertising failures. It hypothesizes
that the reality in which a marketing slogan has been created is different from that of the addressee;
different to the extent that the original meaning is not transferable. The philosophical basis for this
argument is that of Martin Heidegger, known as “being and time”. Heidegger was concerned with
the inability to understand texts across contexts being context time- or culture- related. The inability
he points to is beyond mere translation; neither is it a conceptual gap. The essence is that the very
usage of words reflects a reality within which one exists, and the emphasis is on “within”: one is
unable to think beyond this envelope.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Shuki Dror and Natalia Zaitsev
Keywords: Simulation, design of experiments, generic processes, emergency department
BUSINESS PROCESS DESIGN
Keywords: Advertisement, copywriting, message, communication
Maya Kaner, Pnina Soffer, (Haifa University) and Yair Wand, (University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada).
MARKET ORIENTATION
As business processes become increasingly automated through process aware information systems,
the quality of process design becomes crucial. In our research we focus on reachability of the process
goal and the process modeling frameworks intended to be used by human analysts as a prior step
to automation of these processes.
Keywords: Business process goal, validation and verification, process aware information systems
FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS (FMS): OPERATIONS AND CONTROL
Boris Shnits
An FMS is a manufacturing system that is comprised of automated flexible hardware (CNC
machining/turning centers, robots, etc.) providing the system with the flexibility to produce a
wide array of products and to recover quickly from breakdowns. In reality FMSs fall short from
the theoretical flexibility they were expected to provide. This research focuses on developing
methodologies and control schemes that enable an FMS to improve its efficiency and productivity
and to cope with the volatile production environment that the FMS operates in. These control
schemes deal with solving a multi-criteria dynamic scheduling problem using optimization-based
techniques and simulation.
Keywords: Flexible manufacturing systems, dynamic scheduling, simulation-based control
28
Boris Shnits
Arie Maharshak
With the market orientation, for the first time emphasis was placed on the importance of
intently listening to the customer, implementing the concept of long-term process, and
adapting the product for the user’s needs. A naïve concept is the way a layman perceives
events and phenomena in the world around him before being exposed to methodical scientific
study. His naïveté rules his accumulated experience, intuition and instincts, which often have
led to conclusions contrary to scientific doctrine. The research examines marketing philosophy
and its implications on business, and the ‘Naïve Concept’ as a conceptual barrier for adopting
market orientation.
Keywords: Market orientation, naïve concept, reality, intuition
CROSS CULTURE HR MANAGEMENT
Hilla Peretz and Yizhak Fried (Syracuse University, NY)
Cross Culture Management focuses on content pertaining to HR management with a cross-border
dimension. In our longitudinal research we study the effects of national values on a variety of HR
practices (such as performance appraisal, training strategies, HR information system and more),
and the effect of fit between HR practices and national values on organizations’ performance
29
indicators. The study consists of a large sample of over 20 countries and is based on data from
several years, with the goal of exploring the stability of these relationships before and after the
financial crisis.
Keywords: National values, human resource management, organizational performance
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - DIVERSITY STUDY
Hilla Peretz
The importance of group diversity has rapidly penetrated into organizations and research theory
in recent years. Diversity has been credited with both positive and negative outcomes for team
performance. In our ongoing research we explore two major topics: 1. the factors influencing
a positive implementation of diversity in regard to group performance and its effectiveness. 2.
The acceptance of affirmative action in different contextual settings (both organizational and
national) and its implementation on performance.
Keywords: Diversity, team performance
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION (MNC)
Hilla Peretz
MNC is a corporation that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. MNC
defined as a corporation which has it managerial head quarters in one country and operates in
several other countries. The purpose of this research is to build a model of the success of a MNC
based on three groups of factors: professional characteristics, organizational characteristics and
countries’ similarities. The aim is to understand the conditions for a MNC to attain high performance
levels and by that to suggest a useful typology of MNCs.
Keywords: Multinational firms, organizational culture, professional culture, national culture
APPLIED PROBABILITY
Tamar Gadrich and Rachel Ravid
Applied probability is concerned with the application of probability theory to other scientific
and engineering areas (e.g. physics, biology, medicine, computer science, technology and social
sciences). We apply generalizations of classical models in order to solve problems that appeared
in modern industry. Occupancy models are an example of one of the models that generalized
the classical coupon collector problem and were applied in the area of statistical quality control.
SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
Hussein Naseraldin
The main objective of supply chain management is to achieve operational excellence across all
aspects of the firm. This can be achieved by maximizing the value created by each and every decision
and operation. This results in superior performance that leads to increasing market share with
satisfied customers. To achieve the above, all decisions must be aligned and integrated, i.e. while
determining strategic decisions, consider the operational decisions. Among the most important
strategic decisions in a supply chain context is the number and location of facilities.
Keywords: Supply chain design, network configuration, multi-echelon, supply chain performance
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Hussein Naseraldin
A major decision in the supply chain context is the inventory level of the product that is kept along the
supply chain. The inventory level affects the service level that the customer receives thus, it affects
the operational performance. Though the decisions regarding inventory levels are typically made
after several other strategic and tactical decisions are made, yet integrating the inventory decisions
with strategic decisions at an early stage has a crucial effect on the overall performance. Inventory
management encompasses policies and practices of inventory. For example, lateral transshipment
is a practice in which excess inventory is moved along the supply chain to locations with a shortage
of inventory, and by doing so the cost of excess and shortage are saved.
Keywords: Inventory policy, inventory-location model, lateral transshipments, unit-price discount
FACILITY LOCATION
Hussein Naseraldin
A facility refers to a retail outlet or a service depot or a production plant. In all cases, facility
location is about determining how many facilities to open in order to cover a demand that
is created in a specific area. It also determines the location of each facility. By determining
these two decisions, we fix most of the supply chain network structure. Several approaches
are possible when coming to determine these decisions. Among others, a robust optimization
approach guarantees solutions that are robust to changes in the parameters due to uncertainty,
in particular uncertainty in the demand.
Keywords: Number of facilities, network design, distance metric, robust optimization
Keywords: Probability models, statistical quality control, occupancy problems, enumerative combinatorics
APPLIED PROBABILITY
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
Tamar Gadrich and Rachel Ravid
Applied probability is concerned with the application of probability theory to other scientific and
engineering areas (e.g. physics, biology, medicine, computer science, technology and social sciences).
We apply generalizations of classical models in order to solve problems that appeared in modern
industry. Occupancy models are an example of one of the models that generalized the classical
coupon collector problem and were applied in the area of statistical quality control.
Keywords: Probability models, statistical quality control, occupancy problems, enumerative combinatorics
30
ISENBIS CONFERENCE
• The second meeting of the Israeli Local Network of ENBIS on Predictive Analytics, Herzelia, Israel, 2009
• The first meeting of the Israeli Local Network of ENBIS on selected topics in data mining,
Herzelia, Israel, 2008
• Conference on creating information from data infrastructures, ORT Braude College, Israel, 2008
31
QUALITY IN THE GALILEE
• The second conference on quality in the Galilee: The role of quality, theory and practice,
ORT Braude College, Israel, 2009
• The first conference on quality in the Galilee: The role of quality, theory and practice,
ORT Braude College, Israel, 2008
H. Peretz, Review of the book “Women Principals in a Multicultural Society: New Insights into
Feminist Educational Leadership”. Oplatka, I. & Hertz-Lazarowitz, H. (Eds.), Diaspora, Indigenous, and
Minority Education: An International Journal, 2, 2008, 80-86.
H. Peretz and Y. Fried, National values, performance appraisal and organizational performance: A study
across 21 countries, Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings, CD ISSN 1035-7359, 2008
ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
S. Dror, Deployment of Service Quality Characteristics, International Journal of Humanities and
Social Sciences, 1(1), 2007, 31-34.
• The second conference on environment quality, ORT Braude College, Israel, 2009
• The first conference on technologies and management of the environment quality,
ORT Braude College, Israel, 2008
S. Dror, A Process Causality Approach Given a Strategic Frame, Journal of Modeling in Management,
(1)2, 2007, 40 – 55.
REFEREED PAPERS
R. Hertz-Lazarowitz, H. Peretz, A. Farah, F. Azaiza, T. Zelniker and R. Sharabany, Psychological Attitudes
of Life at Haifa University Before and After Second Lebanon War: Comparative Study for Years 20062007. Studies in Educational Administration and Organization, (in press).
M. Kaner and R. Karni, Design of Service Systems using a Knowledge-Based Approach, Knowledge
and Process Management, 14(4), 2007, 260-274.
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, Some Metrological Aspects of Ordinal Measurements, Accreditation
and Quality Assurance, 2009 (published online)
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi and A. Shtub, Model for Cost Estimation in a Finite-Capacity Stochastic Environment
based on Shop Floor Optimization Combined with Simulation, European Journal of Operational
Research (EJOR), 194, 1, 294-306, 2009
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi and A. Shtub, A Comparative Study of Rough-Cut Cost Estimation in a FiniteCapacity Stochastic Environment, International Journal of Revenue Management (IJRM), 1(3),
2009, 1-36.
A. Silver, H. Naseraldin, and D. Bischak, Determining the Reorder Point and Order-Up-To-Level in a
Periodic Review System so as to Achieve a Desired Fill Rate and a Desired Average Time Between
Replenishments, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 2009, 1244-1253.
M. Kaner and R. Karni, Engineering Design of a Service System: an Empirical Study, Information
Knowledge Systems Management, 6, 2007, 235-263.
A. Maharshak and D. Pundak, Decision-Maker’s Impact on a firm’s Market Orientation. Reviewed
Proceedings - Studies in Simulation and Modelling, 8th WSEAS Int. Conf. on Mathematics and
Computers in Business and Economics (MCBE’07), Vancouver, Canada, 2007.
R. Karni, and M. Kaner, Integration of a Service Taxonomy and the 40 Inventive Principles for
Conceptualizing the Components of a Service System, TRIZ Journal, e journal, October, 2007.
D. Sinreich and B. Shnits, A Robust FMS Control Architecture with an Embedded Adaptive
Scheduling Mechanism, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 4(25), 2007, 301-312.
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
M. Barad, and S. Dror, Strategy Maps as Improvements Paths of Enterprises, International Journal of
Production Research, 46, 23:6627-6647, 2008.
E. Bashkansky, S. Dror, R. Ravid and P. Grabov, Effectiveness of a Product Quality Classifier, Quality
Engineering, 3(19), 2007, 235-244.
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, Evaluating Quality Measured On a Ternary Ordinal Scale, Quality And
Reliability Engineering International, (24), 2008, 957-971.
S. Dror, The Balance Scorecard versus Quality Award Models as Strategic frameworks, Total Quality
Management and Business Excellence, 6(19), 2008, 583-593.
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi and A. Shtub, Rough-Cut Cost Estimation in a Capacitated Environment, The
International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management (IJISSCM), 2(1),
2008, 19-39.
R. Karni, and M. Kaner, Knowledge Management Of Interconnected Decisions with Application to
Project Management, Knowledge and Process Management, 15(4), 2008, 211-223.
H. Naseraldin and Y. Herer, Integrating the Number and the Location of Retail Outlets on a Line with
Replenishment Decisions, Management Science, 54(3), 2008, 1666-1683.
32
G. Avigad, E. Eisenstadt-Matalon and B. Shnits, Supporting the Selection of Robust Engineering
Concepts Under Supplier Related Uncertainties, Journal of Engineering Design.
S. Dror, A Methodology for Realignment of Quality Cost Elements, Journal of Modeling in Management.
T. Gadrich and R. Ravid, The Sequential Occupancy Problem through Group Throwing of Indistinguishable
Balls, Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability.
M. Kaner and R. Karni, An Ideation Framework for Service Process Improvement, International Journal
of Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Technology.
A. Kurland, H. Peretz and R. Hertz-Lazarowitz, Leadership Style and Organizational Learning: The
Mediate Effect of School Vision, Journal of Educational Administration.
H. Peretz and Z. Rosenblatt, National Culture Effect on Organizational Training: a Comparative Study
in 21 Countries, Journal of Cross-Culture Psychology.
B. Shnits, Methods for activating the Decision Making Process that is used for Controlling Flexible
33
Manufacturing Systems, International Journal of Production Research.
P. Soffer, M. Kaner, and Y. Wand, Assigning Ontological Meaning to Workflow Nets, Journal of
Database Management.
PUBLISHED BOOKS
H. Peretz, Organizational Training: A Multi-Dimensional and Multi Cultural Approach, VDM publishing.
ISBN 978-3-639-14306-5, 2009.
W. Christian, M. Belloni, A. Maharshak and D. Pundak, (2008). Multi-Representational Electromagnetism.
Reches, Kadima. (Hebrew)
T. Gadrich and E. Bashkansky, SPC Performance for Ternary Ordinal Quality Measures, Fourth Israel
Industrial Engineering and Management Research Meeting (IIERM), Maalot, Israel, 2009.
T. Gadrich and R. Ravid, Waiting Time in the Sequential Occupancy Problem, 2009 Joint Statistical
Meetings, Washington DC, USA, 2009.
M. Kaner, T. Gadrich and S. Dror, Engineering of Service Processes through Design of Experiments
and Simulation, 4th Israel Industrial Engineering and Management Research Meeting (IIERM),
Maalot, 2009.
R. Ravid, S. Dror and E. Bashkansky, Integrating AHP in an FMECA R framework for Ranking Down
Syndrome Tests, proceedings of ICPR 20 – International Conference on Production Research, Beijing,
China, 2009.
S. Dror, T. Gadrich and M. Kaner, Service Process Operations Management Using Design of Experiments
and Simulation, XVIII International RESER Conference, Stuttgart, Germany, 2008.
T. Gadrich and R. Ravid, The Coupon Collector Problem in Statistical Quality Control, The 2008
International conference of applied and engineering mathematics (ICAEM), London, U.K., 2008.
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
T. Zelniker, H. Hertz-Lazarowitz, H. Peretz, F. Azaiza and R. Sharabany, Arab and Jewish students’
Participatory Action Research at the University of Haifa: A Model for Peace Education, In C. McGlynn,
M. Zembylas, Z. Bekerman, & T. Gallagher (Eds.). Peace Education In Coflict and Post-Conflict Societies:
Comparative Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan, 198-216, 2009.
P. Soffer, M. Kaner and Y. Wand, Assigning Ontology-Based Semantics to Process Models: the Case
of Petri Nets, Information Systems Engineering, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 5074, Springer
Verlag, 16-31, 2008.
R. Karni. and M. Kaner, An Engineering Tool for the Conceptual Design of Service Systems, in
Advances in Services Innovations, eds. Spath, D. and Faehnrich, K.-P., Springer Verlag, (invited
chapter), 67-86, 2007
H. Peretz and Z. Rosenblatt, Cultural and Organizational Effects on Training and Development, In
K. Kumar (Ed.), Training and Development - Country Experiences. Hyderabad: ICFAI Press. (in press)
P. Soffer, Y. Wand and M. Kaner, Semantic Analysis of Flow Patterns in Business Process Modeling,
Business Process Management (BPM), G. Alonso, P. Dadam, M. Rosemann, eds, Lecture Notes in
Computer Science 4714, Springer Verlag, 400-407, 2007.
REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, Statistical Quality Control on a Ternary Scale Basis, The 20th International
Conference on Production Research, Shanghai, China, 2009.
S. Dror and Y. Sukenik, A Framework for Service Quality Deployment, In Proceedings of the RESER
2009 conference, Budapest, Hungary, 2009.
34
M. Kaner, and R. Karni, Application of theTheory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) to Service
System Design, XVIII International RESER Conference, Stuttgart, Germany, 2008.
E. Bashkansky, T. Gadrich and E. Godik, How to Estimate Quality on a Ternary Categorical Scale?
proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Quality and Reliability, Chang Mai, Thailand, 2007.
M. Kaner, and P. Soffer, Facilitating Validity Analysis in Business Process Models: an Empirical Study,
3rd Israel Industrial Engineering and Management Research Meeting (IIERM), Tel-Aviv, 2007.
P. Soffer, Y. Wand and M. Kaner, Semantic analysis of Flow Patterns in Business Process Modeling,
proceeding of the 5th International Conference on Business Process Management, Brisbane,
Australia, 2007.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND ABSTRACTS
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, Some Metrological Aspects of Ordinal Measurements, The 10th
National Conference, Israel Soc. for Quality, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2009.
S. Dror, Causality Processes in the Performances of an Individual Organization Consistent with a
Given Strategy, In Proceedings of the ENBIS9 conference, Goteborg, Sweden, 2009.
M. Kaner and R. Karni, Innovative Redesign of Service Processes, 11th International Conference
on The Modern Information Technology in the Innovation Processes of the Industrial Enterprises,
Bergamo, Italy, 2009.
Y. Arzi, A. Grosman and I. Gurfinkel, A Model for Measuring the Efficiency of Technological
Innovation Process in Businesses, 15th Industrial Engineering and Management Conference, Tel
Aviv, Israel, 2008.
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, Realization of SPC for Ordinal Quality Measures, proceedings of the
15th Industrial Engineering and Management Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2008
35
E. Bashkansky and T. Gadrich, SPC Performance for Ordinal Quality Measures – Theory and Practice,
the 17th International Conference of the Israel Society for Quality, Tel Aviv, 2008
S. Dror, T. Gadrich and M. Kaner, Design of Experiments in Simulation with Application to Services,
ENBIS8 Athens, Greece, Athens, 2008.
B. Shnits and D. Sinreich, Multi-Criteria Dynamic Scheduling and Simulation-Based Control in
Flexible Manufacturing Systems, proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Logistics
(ICIL2008), Tel Aviv, Israel, 2008.
S. Dror, Utilizing QFD for Translating Business Objectives into Action Plans, In proceedings of the
International Conference on Industrial Logistics (ICIL08), Tel Aviv, 2008.
Y. Arzi, A. Grosman and I. Gurfinkel, Measuring Technological Innovation in Businesses, 5th AIMS
International Conference on Management, (keynote speaker in Plenary Session), Hyderabad, India, 2007.
S. Dror, House of Service Quality (HOSQ): from Service Quality Characteristics to Organizational
Features, In proceedings of the 15th Industrial Engineering and Management Conference (IE&M
2008), Tel Aviv, 2008.
E. Bashkansky, T. Gadrich and E. Godik, Evaluating Quality on a Triple Ordinal Scale, the 12th
International Conference on Quality and Productivity Research, Haifa, Israel, 2007.
S. Dror, R. Ravid and E. Bashkansky, Identifying Downs Syndrome Fetuses Using Taguchi’s Approach:
Selecting the Most Appropriate Detection Method, In proceedings of the 3rd World Conference on
Production and Operations Management, POM Tokyo, 2008.
E. Bashkansky, Managing Quality in the ORT Braude Academic College, proceedings of the 9th
National Conference, Israel Soc. for Quality, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2007.
S. Dror, House of Quality Costs (HOQC), in proceedings of the 3rd Israeli Industrial Engineering
Research, Tel Aviv, 2007.
S. Dror, Strategy Deployment: Linking Business Objectives to Action Plans, In proceedings of the 3rd
World Conference on Production and Operations Management, POM Tokyo, 2008.
S. Dror, Deployment of Service Quality, in proceedings of the World Academy of Science, Engineering
and Technology, 24:31-34, 2007, ISSN 1307-6884, Nice, 2007.
D. Faran, Methodology for Identifying Information Needs along the Decision-Making Process, the
15th Conference of Industrial Engineering and Management, Tel-Aviv, Israel, 2008.
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi, A. Shtub, M. J. Chandra and Y. Ge, Cost Estimate in a Finite-Capacity Environment
with Stochastic Processing Times, Machine Failures and Yields of Products, IIE-RM – the 3rd Israeli
Industrial Engineering Research Meeting: Industrial Engineering & Management, Current Research
Issues, edited by I. Ben-Gal, E. Menipaz and D. Sinreich, Tel Aviv, 2007.
D. Faran, The Case of Community-of-Practice Demise: Why Good Will and Real Need are Necessary
for Peer Learning but are not Enough, International Conference on Organizational Learning,
Knowledge and Capabilities (OLKC2008), Copenhagen, Denmark, 2008.
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi and A. Shtub, A Comparative Study of Rough-Cut Cost Estimation in a FiniteCapacity Stochastic Environment, 15th Industrial Engineering and Management Conference, Tel
Aviv, Israel, 2008.
M. Eklin, Y. Arzi and A. Shtub, A Rough-Cut Cost Estimation in a Finite-Capacity Stochastic
Environment Based on Forced Idle Time Prediction, proceedings of the 9th Biennial ASME Conference
on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis - ESDA08, ESDA2008-59042, Haifa, Israel, 2008.
M. Kaner and R. Karni, Theory of Inventive Problem Solving with Application to Service Design, 15th
Israel Conference on Industrial Engineering and Management, Tel-Aviv, 2008
R. Karni and M. Kaner, Knowledge-Based Design of Services with Application to an After-Sales Service
Facility, 9th ASME Engineering Design and Analysis Conference, Haifa, Israel, 2008
H. Kurland, H. Peretz and R. Hertz-Lazarowitz, School Vision as Mediator between Principals’
Leadership Style and School Organizational Learning, American Educational Research Association,
New York, NY, 2008
A. Maharshak and D. Pundak, Marketing Principles versus Experience and Intuition, International
Colloquium on Asian Business (ICAB) 2008, Bangkok, Thailand, 2008.
H. Peretz and Z. Rosenblatt, The Role of National Values in Organizational Training: a Comparative
Study in 21 Counties, International Society of Work and Organizational Values, Singapore, 2008
H. Peretz and Y. Fried, Values, Performance Appraisal and Organizational Performance: A Study
Across 21 Countries, Academy of Management, Anaheim, CA.,(nominated by the HR division for the
Dexter International award), 2008
B. Shnits and D. Sinreich, Embedding an Adaptive Scheduling Mechanism in a Robust FMS Control
System, proceedings of the 15th Industrial Engineering and Management Conference (IE&M 2008),
36
Tel Aviv, Israel, 2008.
H. Hertz-Lazarowitz, F. Azaiza, H. Peretz, T. Zelniker and R. Sharabany, Haifa University: Is it an Umwelt
for Dialogue between Religions and Identities?, The World Council of Comparative Education
Societies, Sarajevo, 2007.
A. Maharshak and D. Pundak, the Impact of a Decision-Making Group on the Market Orientation of a
Firm - a Case Study, 8th WSEAS Int. Conf. on Mathematics and Computers in Business and Economics
(MCBE’07), Vancouver, Canada, 2007.
A. Maharshak and D. Pundak, Decision-Maker’s Impact on the Firm’s Market Orientation, The 3rd
Research Conference, ORT Braude Engineering College, Karmiel, Israel, 2007.
H. Naseraldin and A. E. Silver, Integrating a One-time Probabilistic Special Purchasing Opportunity
with On-Going Replenishment Decisions, Institute for Operations Research and Management
Sciences – INFORMS, Seattle, Washington, USA, 2007.
H. Peretz and Z. Rosenblatt, International Approach to Organizational Investment in Training:
Country Cluster-Analysis, Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA, 2007.
H. Peretz and Z. Rosenblatt, The Role of Leadership in Training: Predicting Training Effectiveness by
Leadership Style, Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA, 2007.
PATENTS
A. Maharshak, et al, Flexible Printed Circuits with Many Tiny Holes, US Patent 7,291,795 B2,
November 6, 2007.
37
GEOMETRIC FUNCTION THEORY
DEPARTMENT OF
MATHEMATICS AND
APPLIED MATHEMATICS
Mark Elin, Marina Levenshtein, David Shoikhet, Fiana Yacobzon, Dov Aharonov (Technion, Israel),
Lev Aizenberg (Bar-Ilan University, Israel), Nikolai Tarkhanov (Universität Potsdam, Germany) and
Lawrence Zalcman (Bar-Ilan University, Israel).
Geometric function theory deals with the study of geometric properties of univalent mappings. The
subject has been studied with changing emphases for over a hundred years. The famous results in
this field are the Riemann mapping theorem, the hyperbolic geometry, Schwarz Lemma, Julia-WolffCarathéodory Theorem and others.
The subject of our interest is biholomorphic mappings on the unit ball (in the one-dimensional
and multi-dimensional complex spaces). We study their geometric structures including starlike and
spirallike mappings with respect to an interior point or a boundary point, functions convex in one
direction and so on. Considered geometric characteristics of images involve distortion theorems and
boundary behavior of different classes of mappings as well as interpolation problems.
Keywords: starlike, spirallike functions, distortion theorems, boundary behavior
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND GENERAL RELATIVITY
> Prof. Mark Elin
Ph.D., Department Head
RESEARCH AREAS
COMPLEX DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
Mark Elin, Marina Levenshtein, David Shoikhet, Fiana Yacobzon, Filippo Bracci (Università di Roma
“Tor Vergata”, Italy), Simeon Reich (Technion, Israel) and Roberto Tauraso (Università di Roma “Tor
Vergata”, Italy).
Complex dynamical systems have been intensively developed from the beginning of the 20th
century. One of the first applicable models of the complex dynamical systems arose from studies
of stochastic branching processes in the development of families and populations. The interest in
these models has further increased because of their connections to chemical and nuclear chain
reactions, the theory of cosmic radiation, and many other biological and physical problems.
The study of these problems is based on one-parameter semigroups of holomorphic self-mappings
of the unit disk of the complex plane that is the sphere of our interest.
We study the asymptotic behavior of discrete and continuous time semigroups (in one-dimensional
and multi-dimensional settings), rate of convergence of semigroups to their attractive fixed points,
boundary rigidity problems for semigroups and their generators.
Keywords: semigroup, infinitesimal generator, iteration theory, asymptotic behavior, rigidity
Lavi Karp, Oleg Kelis, Yakov Lutsky, Victor Ostrovki, Uwe Brawer (Universidad Complutense de
Madrid, Spain), Igor Gaissinski (Technion, Israel), Vladimir Rabinovich (Instituto Politécnico
Nacional, Mexico) and Vladimir Rovenski (Haifa University, Israel).
The subject of general relativity has a long history and has had longstanding interest in both
mathematics and physics. It is a rich source of problems both for global and nonlinear partial
differential equations. Our main studies deal with Einstein-Euler systems which describe relativistic
self-gravitating perfect fluids and modeling isolated systems such as stars.
The group also studies the following areas:
• Inverse problems at potential theory, free boundaries and Hele-Shaw flows
• Pseudodifferential operators with applications to elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations
• Mathematical models for hydrodynamics
Keywords: Einstein-Euler systems, nonlinear PDE, pseudodifferential operators, potential theory
OPERATOR THEORY AND NONLINEAR ANALYSIS
Mark Elin, Victor A. Khatskevich, David Shoikhet, Daniel Alpay (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,
Israel), Tomas Azizov (Voronezh State University, Voronezh, Russia), Lawrence Harris (University of
Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA), Tadeusz Kuczumov (University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska,
Poland), Simeon Reich (Technion, Israel), Victor Shulman (Vologda State Technical University,
Russia) and Jaroslav Zemanek (Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland).
The study is focused on fixed point theory and operator methods and their applications to
holomorphic semigroups, to dichotomy in spaces of operators, to functional equations of Abel and
Schroeder type and others.
We aim to give some parametric descriptions of bistrict plus operators and some groups of
automorphisms of the unit operator ball.
Lastly, we are interested in the structure of images of operator linear fractional relations.
Keywords: Hilbert space, orthogonal systems of vectors, linear operator, spectrum of operator
38
39
CONTROL THEORY, DIFFERENTIAL GAMES AND OPTIMIZATION
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
Valeri Y. Glizer, Alexander Goldvard, Vladimir Turetsky, Gideon Avigad (Departmebt of Mechanical
Engineering), Emilia Fridman (Tel-Aviv University), Leonid Fridman (National Autonomous University
of Mexico, Mexico) and Galina A. Kurina (Voronezh State University, Russia).
Control theory studies how to manipulate an input of a dynamic system in order to obtain its desired
behavior and output. Differential games theory studies optimal strategies of several persons subject
to their different, even opposing goals. Optimization theory studies methods to choose an optimal
element from a given admissible set.
Prof. Glizer studies the topics: Control problems and differential games with singularly
perturbed dynamics; Cheap control problems; Robust control; Differential games with perfect
and imperfect information; Differential games with hybrid dynamics; Singularly perturbed ODE,
PDE, functional-differential equations, difference equations; Nonlinear theory of generalized
functions and its applications.
Dr. Goldvard focuses on multi-criteria (multi-objective) optimization problems.
Dr. Turetsky is engaged with the topics: Pursuit-evasion games with perfect and imperfect information;
Generalized linear-quadratic games; Optimal control; Cheap control problems; Invariant sets for
feedback strategies; Inverse problems of signal restoration and differentiation.
Keywords: system analysis, control design, non-cooperative and antagonistic games, multi-objective optimization
> Prof. B. Simon, California Institute of Technology
> Prof. David Shoikhet
COMPLEX ANALYSIS & DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS IV
international conference with over 200 participants from close to 60 worldwide academic and
research institutes, Nahariya, Israel, May 2009.
MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION
Buma Abramovitz, Miryam Berezina, Ludmila Shvartzman, Fiana Yacobzon, Abraham Berman
(Technion, Israel) and Boris Koichu (Technion, Israel).
The main purpose of the research is to develop methods in teaching Mathematics at the undergraduate
level in order to improve students’ understanding. The results have been presented at international
conferences and published in professional journals.
OPEN PROBLEMS IN COMPLEX ANALYSIS & DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
international conference, May 2008.
BRAUDAY OF PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS II
November 2007.
Keywords: Mathematical education, understanding, undergraduated level
APPLIED HARMONIC ANALYSIS
May 2007.
40
41
REFEREED PAPERS
B. Abramovitz, M. Berezina, A. Berman and L. Shvartsman, How to Understand a Theorem, Intern.
J. Math. Education, 40, 2009, 577-586.
T. Y. Azizov, V. A. Khatskevich and V. A. Senderov, Description of Automorphisms of the Unit Operator
Ball, UMB, 6, 2009, 139-149.
V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, A Linear Differential Game with Bounded Controls and Two Information
Delays, Optimal Control, Applications and Methods, 30, 2009, 135 161.
G. Hetsroni, A. Mosyak, E. Pogrebnyak and Z. Segal, Heat Transfer of Gas-Liquid Mixture in MicroChannel Heat Sink, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer 52, 2009, 3963 3971.
M. Levenshtein and S. Reich, Approximating Fixed Points of Holomorphic Mappings in the Hilbert
Ball, Nonlinear Analysis, 70, 2009, 4145-4150.
J. Shinar and V. Turetsky, Three-Dimensional Validation of an Integrated Estimation/Guidance Algorithm
against randomly Maneuvering Targets, Jour. Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 32, 2009, 1034–1039.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer, and V. Turetsky, A Pursuit-Evasion Game with Hybrid Pursuer Dynamics,
European Jour. Control, 15, 2009, 665-684.
F. Yacobzon, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, Linear Fractional Mappings: Invariant Sets, Semigroups and
Commutativity, J. Fixed Point Theory and Appl., 2009, 63-91.
M. Elin, D. Shoikhet and L. Zalcman, A Flower Structure of Backward Flow Invariant Domains for
Semigroups, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. 1, Math. 346, 2008, 293-296.
M. Elin, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, A Julia-Carathéodory Theorem for Hyperbolically Monotone
Mappings in the Hilbert ball, Israel J. Math., 164, 2008, 397-411.
M. Elin, S. Reich, D. Shoikhet and F. Yacobzon, Asymptotic Behavior of One-Parameter Semigroups
and Rigidity of Holomorphic Generators, Compl. Anal. Oper. Theory, 2, 2008, 55-86.
M. Elin, M. Levenshtein, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, Two Rigidity Theorems for Holomorphic Generators
of Continuous Semigroups, J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 9, 2008, 59-64.
M. Elin, M. Levenshtein, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, A Rigidity Theorem for Holomorphic Generators on
the Hilbert ball, Proc. AMS. 136, 2008, 4313-4320.
M. Elin, D. Shoikhet and F. Yacobzon, Linearization Models for Parabolic Type Semigroups, J.
Nonlinear Convex Anal. 9, 2008, 205-214.
M. Elin, M. Levenshtein, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, Commuting Semigroups of Holomorphic Mappings,
Math. Scand. 103, 2008, 295-319.
I. Gaissinski, V. Rovenski and O. Kelis, Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability Model for a Supersonic Adiabatic
Jet, Intern. Jour. Pure & Appl. Math., 44, 2008, 235 238.
V. Y. Glizer, and V. Turetsky, Complete Solution of a Differential Game with Linear Dynamics and
Bounded Controls, Applied Mathematics Research eXpress, article ID: abm012, 2008, 49 pages.
V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, On the Inverse Problem for Robust Capture Zone Construction, Jour.
Optimization Theory Appl., 137, 2008, 381–400.
42
43
A. Goldvard, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, Asymptotic Representations of Star-Like Functions via Continuous
Semigroups of Holomorphic Mappings, Math. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 108, 2008, 177-197.
L. Karp, On Null Quadrature Domains, Comput. Methods Func. Theory, 8, 2008, 57-72.
V. A. Khatskevich and V. A. Senderov, On the Structure of Semigroups of Operators Acting in Spaces
with Indefinite Metric, Operator Theory, 188, 2008, 205 213.
Y. Lutsky and V. Rabinovich, Parabolic Pseudodifferential Operators in Exponential Weighted Spaces,
Contemp. Math., 455, 2008, 278-295.
Y. Lutsky and V. Rabinovich, Invertibility of Parabolic Pseudodifferential Operators with Rapidly
Increasing Symbols, Russian J. of Math. Physics, 15, 2008, 267-279.
J. Shinar, V. Turetsky, V. Y. Glizer, and E. Ianovsky, Solvability of Linearquadratic Games Associated
with Pursuit-Evasion Problems, Intern. Game Theory Review, 10, 2008, 481-515.
D. Shoikhet, Another Look at the Burns-Krantz Theorem. J. Anal. Math.
105, 2008, 19-42.
J. Shinar, V. Turetsky, and Y. Oshman, New Logic-Based Estimation/Guidance Algorithm for
Improved Homing Against Randomly Maneuvering Targets, Jour.Guidance, Control and Dynamics,
30, 2007, 154 160.
D. Shoikhet, Linearizing Models of Koenigs Type and the Asymptotic Behavior of One-Parameter
Semigroups, (Russian) Sovrem. Mat. Fundam. Napravl. 21, 2007, 149-167; translation in J. Math. Sci.
(N.Y.) 153, (5), 2008, 629-648.
V. Turetsky, Capture Zones of Cheap Control Interception Strategies, Jour. Optimization, Theory
Appl., 135, 2007, 69–84.
V. Turetsky and V. Y. Glizer, Robust Solution of a Time-Variable Interception Problem: a Cheap
Control Approach, Intern. Game Theory Review, 9, 2007, 637 655.
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
V. Turetsky, Capture Zones of Linear Feedback Pursuer Strategies, Automatica, 44, 2008, 560- 566.
T. Y. Azizov and V. A. Khatskevich, Bistrict Plus-Operators and Linear Fractional Operator Transformations,
UMB, 4, 2007, 307-328.
T. Y. Azizov and V. A. Khatskevich, On Parametric Description of Linear Fractional Transformations of
the Unit Operator Ball, Uchenye Zapiski Tavricheskogo Nazional’nogo Universiteta im. Vernadskogo,
20, 2007, 13 20.
U. Brauer and L. Karp, Local Existence of Classical Solutions for the Einstein-Euler System using
Weighted Sobolev Spaces of Fractional Order, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 345, 2007, 49-54.
M. Elin, M. Levenshtein, D. Shoikhet and R. Tauraso, Rigidity of Holomorphic Generators and OneParameter Semigroups, Dynam. Systems Appl. 16, 2007 251 266.
V. Y. Glizer, Infinite Horizon Quadratic Control of Linear Singularly Perturbed Systems with State
Delays: An Asymptotic Solution of Riccati-Type Equations, IMA Journal of Mathematical Control and
Information, 24(4) 2007.
V. Y. Glizer, L. Fridman, and V. Turetsky, Cheap Suboptimal Control of Uncertain Systems with State
Delays, IEEE Trans. Automatic Control, 52, 2007, 1892–1898.
V. Y. Glizer, and V. Turetsky, Robust Controllability of Linear Systems: Analysis and Application to
Pursuit Problems, Proc. Appl. Math. Mech., 7, 2007, 2030035 2030036.
G. Hetsroni, A. Mosyak, E. Pogrebnyak and Z. Segal, Natural Convection Boiling of Water and Surfactants
in Narrow Horizontal Annular Channels, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 33, 2007, 469-483.
V. A. Khatskevich, V. Ostrovski and M. Shulman, Quadratic Inequalities for Hilbert Space Operators,
Integr. Eq. Oper. Theory, 59, 2007, 19-34.
V. A. Khatskevich, V. Ostrovski and M. Shulman, Quadratic Operator Inequalities and Linear-Fractional
Relations, Func. Anal. Appl., 41, 2007, 314 317.
44
V. A. Khatskevich and V. Senderov, One Parameter Semigroups of Plus-Operators., Operator Theory.
A. Goldvard, Pareto Layer: Its Formulation and Search by way of Evolutionary Multi Objective
Optimization, Engineering Optimization.
M. Levenshtein and S. Reich, A Rigidity Theorem for Commuting Holomorphic Functions, J. Nonlinear
Convex Anal.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS OF BOOKS
B. Abramovitz, M. Berzina and L. Shvartsman, Calculus of Several Variables, Jerusalem Magnes Press,
the Hebrew University, ISBN: 978-965-493-322-3, 2008, 334 pp.
M. Agranovsky, D. Bshouty, L. Karp, S. Reich, D. Shoikhet, and L. Zalcman (Editors), Proceedings of
an international conference Complex Analysis & Dynamical System III, a conference in honor of
the Retirement of Dov Aharonov, Lev Aizenberg, Samuel Krushkal, and Uri Srebro, Contemporary
Mathematics, (455) 2008, American Mathematical Society.
M. Elin and D. Shoikhet, Linearization Models for Complex Dynamical Systems. Topic in Univalent
Functions, Functions Equations and Semigroup Theory, (in print), Birkhauser Verlag.
I. Giassinski, O. Kelis and V. Rovenski, Applications of Perturbation Methods to Hydrodynamic
Instability Analysis, VDM (Verlag Dr. Muller) publishing house (in preparation).
M. Levenshtein, S. Reich and D. Shoikhet, An Application of the Resolvent Method to Rigidity Theory
for Holomorphic Mappings, J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 8, 2007, 99 103.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, Solution of a Linear Pursuit-Evasion Game with Variable Structure
and Uncertain Dynamics, in: Advances in Dynamic Game Theory, Numerical Methods, Algorithms,
and Applications to Ecology and Economics (S. Jorgensen, M. Quincampoix and T. Vincent, Eds.),
Annals of the International Society of Dynamic Games, Birkhauser, Boston, (9), 2007, 195-222.
Y. Mishan, A. Mosyak, E. Pogrebnyak and G. Hetsroni, Effect of Developing Flow and Thermal Regime on
Momentum and Heat Transfer in Micro-Scale Heat Sink, J. Heat and Mass Transfer 50, 2007, 3100-3114.
D. Toledano-Kitai, D. Shoikhet and F. Yacobzon, Differential and Integral Calculus in One Variable,
Magnes, The Acad. Press of Hebrew University, 2008, 327pp.
45
the Eighth International Conference, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2007, 43-58, Yokohama Publishers, 2008.
I. Gaissinski, V. Rovenski and O. Kelis, Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability Model for Supersonic Adiabatic
Viscid Jet. – Proc. 2nd Int. Conference on Mathematics & Statistics, Athens, Greece 2008.
V. Y. Glizer, V. Turetsky and J. Shinar, Continuous Robust Control Strategies in an Interception
Problem with Variable Dynamics, Proceedings of Conference on Instrumentation, Control and
Information Technology, DOI 10.1109/SICE 2008.4654751, Chofu City, Japan, 2008.
V. Y. Glizer, V. Turetsky and J. Shinar, Differential Game with Linear Dynamics and Multiple
Information Delays, International Conference on Actual Problems of Stability and Control Theory,
Ekaterinburg, Russia, 2009.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, Pursuit of an Evader with Hybrid Dynamics, Preprints of the
3rd IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems, Zaragoza, Spain, 2009.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, Novel Method to Control Linear Systems of Acceleration
Constrained Dynamics, IFAC Workshop on Control Applications of Optimization, Jyvaskyla, Finland, 2009.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer, and V. Turetsky, A Pursuit-Evasion Game with Hybridpursuer Dynamics,
Proceedings of the European Control Conference, 1306–1313, (invited paper) Kos, Greece, July 2007.
J. Shinar, V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, A Pursuit-Evasion Game with Hybrid Evader Dynamics,
Proceedings of the European Control Conference, Budapest, Hungary, 2009.
J. Shinar and V. Turetsky, Two Potential Breakthroughs Answering the Ballistic Missile Defense
Challenges, Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference for Aerospace Sciences, Versailles, Paris,
France, 2009.
J. Shinar and V. Turetsky, Meeting the Challenges of Modern Interceptor Guidance by Nonorthodox
Approaches, Proceedings of the 17th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation,
Thessaloniki, Greece, 2009.
REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
B. Abramovitz, A. Berman, M. Berzina, L. Shvartsman, Lagrange’s Theorem: what does the Theorem
Mean?, Proceedings of CERME 5, ISBN 978-9963-671-25-0, Cyprus, 2231-2240, 2007.
B. Abramovitz, M. Berzina, B. Koichu and L. Shvartsman, Urging Calculus Students to be Active
Learners: What Works And What Doesn’t, Proceedings of CERME 6, France, 2009.
B. Abramovitz, A. Berman, M. Berzina and L. Shvartsman, Proofs and “Puzzles”, Proceedings of the
10th International Conference “Modeles in Developing Mathematics Education”, ISBN 83-919465-92, Drezden, 2009.
B. Abramovitz, A. Berman, M. Berzina and L. Shvartsman, Some Initiatives in Calculus Teaching,
Proceedings of the 10th International Conference “Modeles in Developing Mathematics Education”,
ISBN 83-919465-9-2, Drezden, 2009.
M. Elin, D. Shoikhet and L. Zalcman, Controlled Approximation for Some Classes of Holomorphic
Functions, Complex analysis and Dynamical Systems III, 63-92, Contemp. Math. 455, Amer. Math.
Soc., Providence, RI, 2008.
M. Elin, S. Reich, D. Shoikhet and F. Yacobzon, Rates of Convergence of one-Parameter Semigroups
with Boundary Denjoy-Wolff Fixed Points, in: Fixed Point Theory and its Applications, Proceedings of
46
J. Shinar and V. Turetsky, Estimation Aspects in the Interception of Randomly Maneuvering Targets,
Proceedings of the 49th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, Tel Aviv – Haifa, Israel, 2009.
V. Turetsky and V. Y. Glizer, Feasibility Sets of Nonlinear Strategies in Scalarizable Robust Transfer
Problem, Proceedings of the 10th IASTED International Conference on Intelligent Systems and
Control, 434 – 439, Cambridge, MA, USA, 2007.
V. Turetsky and V. Y. Glizer, Cheap Control in Generalized Linear-Quadratic Differential Game, the 4th
Conference on Complex Analysis and Dynamical Systems, Nahariya, Israel, 2009.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING AND ABSTRACTS
V. Y. Glizer, Euclidean Space Controllability Conditions for a Class of Singularly Perturbed Systems
with State Delays. Book of Abstracts of the 18th International Symposium on Mathematical Theory
of Networks and Systems, pp. 90-91, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, 2008.
V. Y. Glizer, Asymptotic Solution of Linear-Quadratic Optimal Control Problems for Singularly
Perturbed Systems with Multiple Small State Delays. Abstracts of the International Conference on
Nonlinear Analysis and Optimization, pp. 13-14, Haifa, Israel, 2008.
47
V. Y. Glizer, On a Constrained Control Mayer’s Problem for Singularly Perturbed Delayed Systems.
Book of Abstracts of the 23rd IFIP Conference on System Modeling and Optimization, pp. 374-375,
Cracow, Poland, 2007.
V. Y. Glizer and V. Turetsky, J. Shinar, Differential Game with Linear Dynamics and Multiple
Information Delays. Abstracts of the International Conference “Actual Problems of Stability and
Control Theory” (APSCT’2009), pp.166-168, Ekaterinburg, Russia, 2009.
V. Turetsky and V. Y. Glizer, Cheap Control in Generalized Linear-Quadratic Differential Game.
Abstracts of Lectures Presented at the 4th International Conference on Complex Analysis and
Dynamical Systems, pp. 43-44, Nahariya, Israel, 2009.
V. A. Khatskevich. The Koenigs Problem and Extreme Fixed Points. Workshop: Open Problems in
Complex Analysis And Dynamical Systems, Karmiel, 2008, (Book of Abstracts).
V. A. Khatskevich and V. A. Senderov, The KE-Problem: Description of Diagonal Elements,
Proceedings of the International Conference, Crimea Autumn Mathematical School-Symposium
2007, pp. 37-41, (published in 2008).
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
F. Yacobzon, D. Pundak, D. Toledano-Kitai and S. Rosner, To Adopt an Active Learning, Al hagova, 7 2008.
L. Karp, On the Well-Posedness of the Vacuum Einstein’s Equa- tions, arXiv:0906.2918.
U. Brauer and L. Karp, Interpolation of nonlinear contractive operators.
U. Brauer and L. Karp, Well-posedness of the Einstein-Euler system in asymptotically at spacetimes,
arXiv:0810.5045, 76 pages.
48
49
PARTICLE REINFORCED AZ91D AND AM50 MAGNESIUM ALLOYS SEMISOLID CASTING
DEPARTMENT
OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
Michael Regev, Haim Rosenson and Zamir Koren (Technion)
One of the ways to improve the mechanical properties of alloys is by dispersion strengthening, the
product obtained is an MMC (Metal Matrix Composite). However, getting a uniform distribution of
the strengthening compound presents a technological challenge. Semi solid metal (SSM) casting
offers a number of advantages compared to other casting processes such as reducing cast defects,
eliminating dendritic morphology and improving microstructural uniformity. The high shear rate
and turbulence involved in SSM process can contribute to achieving a uniform distribution of the
reinforcing phase when producing Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs).
Keywords: Semi-solid casting, AZ91D, AM50, MMC
FRICTION STIR WELDING
Michael Regev and Stefano Spigarelli (Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy)
Being a non-melting welding process Friction Stir Welding has many advantages over conventional
welding processes. Among these advantages are the elimination of hot and cold cracking, the
absence of an Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ), and the ability to weld Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs).
In this research, project AZ31 plates will be butt welded, after which their creep properties will be
studied. This research project is in collaboration with an Italian group from the University of Ancona.
> Dr. Shmuel Gazit
Keywords: friction stir welding, AZ31
Ph.D., Department Head
DENTAL BUR WEAR OUT RECOGNITION USING ACOUSTIC EMISSION
Uri Ben Hanan and Shmuel Miller (Department of Electronics)
RESEARCH AREAS
AMORPHOUS ALLOYS
Michael Regev and Alexander Katz-Demyanetz (Technion)
Crystalline magnesium alloys are attractive due to their high strength to weight ratio, amorphous
alloys offer, in addition, higher corrosion resistance and better mechanical properties. One of the
drawbacks of amorphous alloys is the high cooling rates required for achieving an amorphous
microstructure. Research in this area is conducted, therefore, in order to develop amorphous alloys
that can be cast by conventional processes.
Keywords: Mg80Cu10Y10 , metallic glass, gravity casting, melt spinning
The acoustic emission pattern of a dental bur during the grinding process is changing with the wear
out of the bur. In the research acoustic emission and the force applied on the handpiece are record
during the grinding process. Different signal processing procedures applied on the recorded acoustic
emission will be correlate to the force applied. The best fitted procedure or procedure combination
can lead to objective toll describing the bur wear out condition. Micrographs of the dental bur taken
in certain stages during the grinding process by Electronic Microscope will give additional measure
of the bur wear out condition.
Keywords: Acoustic Emission, Grinding process
DENTAL EQUIPMENT
Uri. Ben Hanan, Peter Konvalina, Michael Regev and Herbert Judes (Tel Aviv University)
In this research, we conduct tests of grinding extracted teeth or materials with like properties,
with different dental burs. The experiments are carried out under controlled rate of advance of the
handpiece and different properties and cooling methods, while measuring the; force, heat produced,
amount of removed material and handpiece rotation speed. The burs micrographs before use and
after use are compared to evaluate their wear-out mechanism.
Keywords: grinding wear out, dental bur, tooth grinding
> Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
50
51
> Machining Research Lab Inauguration
> Dental Equipment Lab
Dr. S. Gazit, Mr. S. Wertheimer,
Mr. Z. Pelleg, Dr. S. Rozner
SET BASED DESIGN AND EVOLUTION (SBDE)
OMNIDIRECTIONAL MOTION PLATFORM
Gideon Avigad, Uri Ben Hanan, Vladimir Chechic, Erella Eisenstadt, Alex Goldvard (Department of
Mathematics), Boris Shnits (Department of Industrial Engineering & Management) and Miri. Weiss
(Department of Software Engineering & Information)
Avraham Weiss
SBDE is related to the search for both particular solutions as well as concepts for design and planning
problems. SBDE is unique in that concepts and/or solutions are represented in the objective space by
sets and not by a single representation for each. Currently there are five different studies conducted
with respect to this field. About twelve researches were and are involved in these studies, half of
whom are from abroad. Most of the studies involve the development of engineering paradigms and
related search algorithms, yet some involve laboratory testing.
Keywords: Evolutionary computation, Multi-objective, Engineering design
Motion platforms such as those popular in flight simulators are parallel manipulators utilizing six extensible
legs to control six degrees of freedom. Such platforms are used due to their ability to bear large weight,
but have a very limited range of motion, singularities in their workspace and highly coupled kinematics.
This research focuses on developing, modeling, and optimizing the design of an omnidirectional motion
platform with unlimited, singularity-free angular motion that is decoupled from the translational motion.
Keywords: Motion Platform, Omnidirectional Wheels, Spherical Motion, Design Optimization
OMNIDIRECTIONAL MOBILE ROBOTS
Avraham Weiss
MOBILE PLATFORMS
Gideon Avigad, Uri Ben Hanan and Vladimir Chechik
In the Department, there are several projects which involve development of mobile platforms and
their control. Among these projects are: a. RoBraude; a teleported mobile robot which can climb
stairs and open doors (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syr85gWY9UA) b. BugBraude; building
man-driven vehicle for competitions, c. SegBraude; building and controlling a set of Segways, for
executing a multi-unit mission.
Keywords: Un-Manned-Vehicles, Mobile robot control
Most mobile robots and ground vehicles are non-holonomic, that is, they have more degrees of
freedom than controls. Mobile robots utilizing omnidirectional wheels would be holonomic, thus
being able to have full control over the pose of the robot instantly, without resorting to maneuvers
circumventing motions that are not available for non-holonomic vehicles (such as lateral motion).
Keywords: Mobile robots, Holonomic Ground Vehicles, Omnidirectional Wheels
OMNIDIRECTIONAL WHEELS DESIGN
Avraham Weiss
Omnidirectional wheels are wheels with rollers on their periphery. These rollers allow for a passive degree
of freedom in the rollers rolling direction. Different architectures of these wheels exist, each with its
advantages and disadvantages. The common problem with such wheels is their low load capacity due to the
fact that the load is concentrated on the axis of the small rollers as opposed to the large axis of the wheel. In
order to be able to utilize such omnidirectional wheels for high-load vehicles, this problem must be resolved.
Keywords: Omnidirectional Wheels, Dynamic Loading, Wheel Design
MOLECULAR MODELING FOR POLYMERS
David Alperstein and Dafna Knani (Department of Biotechnology Engineering)
This is the state of the art software technique for prediction and analyzing plastics properties, from
basic principles and computer aided simulations for plastics processing. The main interest in this
is polymer-polymer blends and polymer - additives blends. Some research projects in this field are:
> RobBraude
a Tele-Operated Mobile Robot
52
• Computational research of slow release drugs from polymer matrix
53
•
•
•
•
Computational research of plasticizers for Nylon6.
Computational research of the interaction of carbon tubes with organic compounds.
Computational research of Low Shear Polymers Nano-Composites by phase separation or gelators.
Investigation of Peroxide Crosslinking of a Styrene - Free Unsaturated Polyester Alkyd.
The research is focused on network analysis by Monte Carlo simulation technique and crosslinking
mechanism using quantum mechanics codes.
Keywords: Polymers, Molecular Modeling
BRITTLE FAILURE OF INJECTED PLASTIC PRODUCTS
Materials Science and Technology, (25), 2009, 1227-1233.
A. Weiss, R. G. Langlois and M. J. D. Hayes, The Effects of Dual-Row Omnidirectional Wheels on the
Kinematics of the Atlas Spherical Motion Platform, Journal of Mechanism and Machine Theory,
2(44), 2009, 349-358.
G. Avigad and A. Moshaiov, Set-based Concept Selection in Multi-Objective Problems Involving Delayed
Decisions, Journal of Engineering Design, 2008. Currently on line (DOI: 10.1080/09544820802459243)
U. Ben-Hanan, H. Judes and M. Regev, Comparative Study of Three Different Types of Dental Diamond
Burs, Tribology - Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces, (2), 2008, 77-83.
David Alperstein
M. Regev, H. Rosenson and Z. Koren, Microstructure Study of Particle Reinforced AZ91D and AM50
Magnesium Alloys Semisolid Casting, Materials Science and Technology, (23), 2007, 1485-1491.
Plastic products often fail in an unexpected brittle failure which causes uncertainty in predicting the
product service time. The main interest is in analyzing, predicting and measuring this phenomenon,
mainly in poly-olefins. The recent research project in this field is: Investigation of brittle failure in
injected PP products.
N. Perkas, G. Amiryan, S. Dubinsky, S. Gazit and A. Gedanken, Ultrasound-Assisted Coating of Nylon
6,6 with Silver Nanoparticles, and its Antibacterial Activity, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, (104),
2007, 1423-1430.
Keywords: Brittle failure, Plastics
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
EMPLOYING ASSUR TENSEGRITY STRUCTURE FOR MIMICKING A CATERPILLAR MOTION
Uri Ben-Hanan, Ofer Shai1, Omer Orki1, Itay Techori1 and Michael Slavutin1 (1 Tel Aviv University)
This project is ongoing project aiming to build a robot, composed of Assur tensegrity structures, that
mimics the caterpillar locomotion. Caterpillars are soft bodied animals capable of making complex
movements with an astonishing fault-tolerance. In this model, a caterpillar segment is represented as
a 2D tensegrity triad, consists of two cables and a linear actuator which are connected between two
bars. The unique engineering properties of Assur tensegrity structures which were mathematically
proved only this year, together with the suggested control algorithm share several analogies with
the biological caterpillar. It provides each triad with an adjustable structural softness. Therefore, the
proposed robot has a fault-tolerance and can adjust itself to the terrain roughness. This algorithm
also reduces the control demands of the non-liner model of the triad by enabling simple motion
control for the linear actuator and one of the cables, while the other cable is force controlled.
Keywords: Tensegrity, caterpillar locomotion, shape changing robots
D. Alperstein, N. Kornberg and D. Knani, A Study of Fire Retardant Blooming In HIPS By Molecular
Modeling, PAT.
G. Avigad and A. Moshaiov, Simultaneous Concept-Based EMO, Journal of Applied soft computing.
G. Avigad, E. Erella, and A. Goldvard, Pareto Layer: its Formulation and its Search by way of Evolutionary
Multi-Objective Optimization, Engineering Optimization.
G. Avigad and C. A. C. Coello, Worst-case Reliable Optimal Solutions to Multi Objective Problems
and their Search by Means of Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization, Engineering Optimization.
G. Avigad, E. Eisenstadt and B. Shnits, Supporting the Selection of Robust Engineering Concepts under
Suppliers Related Uncertainties, Journal of engineering design.
I. Harpaz, D. Alperstein and M. Narkis, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Peroxide
Crosslinking of a Styrene - Free Unsaturated Polyester Alkyd, Polymer International.
REFEREED PAPERS
M. Regev, H. Judes and U. Ben-Hanan, Wear Mechanisms of Diamond Coated Dental Burs, Tribology Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces.
G. Avigad, E. Eisenstadt and A. Goldvard, Pareto Layer: its Formulation and its Search by way of
Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization, Engineering Optimization (accepted for publication), 2009.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
G. Avigad and A. Moshaiov, Set-based Concept Selection in Multi-objective Problems: Optimality
versus Variability Approach, Journal of Engineering Design, 3(20), 2009, 217–242.
G. Avigad and A. Moshaiov, Interactive Evolutionary Multi-Objective Search and Optimization of SetBased Concepts, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics -Part B, 4(39), 2009, 1013-1027.
G. Avigad, The Multi-Multi-Objective Optimization Problem and its Solution by EMO, in Kay
Chen Tan, Chi Keong Goh and Yew Soon eds., on ‘Multi-Objective Memetic Algorithms’, Studies in
Computational Intelligence, (171), 2009, 3-26.
H. Katz, Rosenson, Z. Koren and M. Regev, Bulk Metallic Glass Formation in the Mg80Cu15Y5 System,
54
55
REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
M. Regev, Z. Koren, H. Rosenson, and Y. Narovni, Microstructure Characterization of Particle Reinforced
AZ91D and AM50 Magnesium Alloys, Euromat 2007, Nürnberg, Germany, 2007.
G. Avigad, E. Eisenstadt and U. Ben Hanan, Assortment of Solutions for Variable Tasks in MultiObjective Problems (To appear in the proceedings of ICEC 2009)
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING AND ABSTRACTS
A. Katz, H. Rosenson, Z. Koren and M. Regev, The Influence of the Cooling Rate on Bulk Metallic Glass
Formation in Mg80Cu15Y5 and Mg80Cu10Y10”,the 14th Israel Materials Engineering Conference –
IMEC14, Tel-Aviv Israel, 2009.
S. Offer, I. Tehori, A. Bronfeld, M. Slavutin and U. Ben-Hanan, Adjustable Tensegrity Robot Based on
Assur Graph Principle, to appear in the proceedings of International Mechanical Engineering Congress
& Exposition IMECE 2009, Orlando, Florida, 2009.
M. Regev, A. Katz-Demyanetz, Z. Koren and H. Rosenson, Bulk Metallic Glass Formation in the MgCu-Y System, EUROMAT 2009, Glasgow, UK, 2009.
G. Avigad and J. Branke, Embedded EMO for Worst Case Robustness and a related Decision Support,
proceedings of GECCO 2008.
G. Avigad and C. A. C. Coello, Solving Constrained Multi-Objective Problems by Objective Space
Analysis, proceedings of GECCO 2008.
U. Ben-Hanan and O. Riechsfeld, Mechatronics as a Learning Platform, proceedings of the 9th
Biennial ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Conference on ESDA (Engineering Systems
Design and Analysis), Haifa, Israel, 2008
D. Alperstein and D. Knani, Multiscale modeling for polymer science, the state of the art, presented at
the 37th Annual Meeting of the Israeli Polymer and Plastics Society, Tel - Aviv, Israel, 2008.
O. Shai, U. Ben-Hanan, Y. Mor, M. Slovotin, L. Ginzburg, A. Bronfeld and I. Tehori, Deployable
Tensegrity Robots, ICR (Israeli Conference on Robotics), Herzelia, Israel, 2008.
U. Ben-Hanan and O. Riechsfeld, Mechatronics and Meta-Cognitive Skills; Pupils’ Attitude Towards
Technology PATT-20, International Design & Technology Education Conference, Tel-Aviv Israel, 2008.
D. Alperstein, N. Kornberg and D. Knani, A Study of Fire Retardant Blooming In HIPS By Molecular
Modeling, PAT 2009, Jerusalem, Israel, 2009.
G. Avigad, The multi-Multi-Objective Trajectory Planning Problem and its Solution by an Evolutionary
Multi-Objective Optimization, proceedings of the 2nd Israeli Robotic Conference, Herzeliya, 2008.
G. Avigad and E. Eisenstadt, Concept selection in the presence of uncertainties about supply chains,
proceedings of the ORT Braude research symposium, 2008.
G. Avigad, Evolving highly reliable solutions to constrained uncertain multi-objective problems by
worst-case analysis, proceedings of the ORT Braude research symposium, 2008.
M. J. D. Hayes, R. G. Langlois and A. Weiss, Atlas Motion Platform Generalized Kinematic Model,
proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Fundamental Issues and Future Research Directions
for Parallel Mechanisms and Manipulators, Montpellier, France. 2008.
G. Avigad and G. Harpaz, The Multi-Single-Objective Problem (M-SOP) and its solution by evolutionary
algorithms, proceedings of the ORT Braude research symposium, 2008.
A. Weiss, R. G. Langlois and M. J. D. Hayes, Kinematics of the Atlas Platform with Redundant Contact
Points, CSME Symposium on Machines, Mechanisms and Mechatronics, Ottawa, Canada, 2008 (on CD).
D. Alperstein, N. Artzi, M. Narkis and A. Siegmann, Computational Investigation of EVOH/Clay
Nanocomposites, International Soft Matter Conference, Aachen, Germany, 2007.
R. Baavour, M. Fuchs and U. Ben-Hanan, a Slip/Shear Tactile Display Master Unit for High Load
Grip Tasks, the 15th Mediterranean Conference on Control and automation MED’07, Athens,
Greece, 2007.
D. Alperstein, N. Artzi, M. Narkis and A. Siegmann, Computational Study of EVOH/Clay Intercalation.
presented at the 1st European Conference on Multi scale modeling, Brno, Czech Republic, 2007.
G. Avigad, Multi-Multi Objective Optimization Problem and its Solution by a Multi Objective
Evolutionary Algorithm, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, LCNS 4403, pp: 850-861, Springer, 2007,
also In the proceedings of EMO 2007, Japan, 2007.
D. Knani and D. Alperstein, In Silico studies of DBS as a gelator for Polypropylene, presented at the 1st
European Conference on Multi scale modeling, Brno, Czech Republic, 2007.
A. Moshaiov and G. Avigad, Concept-Based Multi-Objective Problems and their Solution by EC,
proceedings of the user-centered EC Workshop at GECCO (2007).
G. Avigad, Solving the Multi-Multi Objective Optimization Problem by a Simultaneous MOEA,
proceedings of the Congress on EC, Singapore, 2007.
G. Avigad and K. Deb, The Sequential Optimization-Constraint Multi-Objective Problem and its
Applications for Robust Planning of Robot Paths, proceedings of the Congress on EC, Singapore, 2007.
A. Katz, H. Rosenson, Z. Koren and M. Regev, Bulk Metallic Glass Formation in the Mg-Cu-Y System,
the 13th Israel Materials Engineering Conference – IMEC 13, Haifa, Israel, 2007.
A. Moshaiov and G. Avigad, The Extended Concept-Based Multi-Objective Path Planning and its
A-Life Implications, Proceedings of the 1st IEEE Symposium on A-life, in 2007 IEEE Symposium Series
on Computational Intelligence, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 2007.
56
PATENTS
Gedanken et al, Method for Preparation of Silver-Polymer Composites by Sonochemical Deposition,
PTC/WO2007/032001, 2007 (patent pending). S. Gazit.
57
QUANTUM OPTICS
DEPARTMENT OF
PHYSICS
Ari Gero
Multiple scattering of photons in disordered atomic media while taking into account cooperative
effects such as superradiance and subradiance study how these effects, which originate from the
interaction between atoms through the radiation field, modify the transport properties of light, e.g.
the photon mean free path and its group velocity.
Keywords: propagation, cooperative effects, disordered media, superradiance
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
WORKSHOP IN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
The research workshop of the Israel Science Foundation “Fluctuations and Phase Transitions in
Superconductors” was held in Nazareth Ilit during June 10-14, 2007, with leading scientists from
eleven countries.
> Prof. Jorge Berger
Ph.D., Department Head
RESEARCH AREAS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY (EXPERIMENTAL)
The workshop was organized by OBC, Bar-Ilan University, and the Weizmann Institute. The OBC
representative in the organizing committee was Prof. J. Berger. Among the members of the advisory
committee was the editor in chief of the leading Russian scientific journal JETP Letters, Prof. V.
Gantmakher, and also the Nobel Laureate, Prof. A. Leggett.
The poster session of the workshop was held at OBC. All the lectures and posters raised considerable
interest. The proceedings were published in Physica C, vol. 468.
REFEREED PAPERS
Menachem Shay
Our research focuses on the problem of the coupling mechanism in high-Tc-superconductors (HTSC).
Single crystals of various HTSC’s are grown in an image zone furnace and the energy spectrum of
these crystals is studied using several methods, mainly by Raman Scattering. An analogue to the
isotope effect is searched for by means of careful comparison of the energy of the phonons and
magnons of different HTSC.
J. Berger, Consistent Langevin Terms in the Numeric Treatment of Superconducting Wires, Physica C
468, 2008, 268-271.
J. Berger, Confinement into a Metastable State with Persistent Current by Thermal Quenching of Loop
of Josephson Junctions, Physica C 468, 2008, 294-298.
Keywords: HTSC, Raman scattering, isotope effect
J. Berger, A. Kanda, R. Furugen, and Y. Ootuka, Location of Flux-Induced Vortex, Physica C 468 pp
848–851, 2008.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY (THEORETICAL)
E. Akkermans, A. Gero, and R. Kaiser, Photon Localization and Dicke Superradiance in Atomic Gases,
Phys. Rev. Lett., 103602 (101), 2008.
Jorge Berger
We study geometric effects on mesoscopic superconducting samples, mainly rings, by means of the
Ginzbug-Landau model and generalizations of it. Special attention is given to thermal fluctuations,
which are studied by means of appropriate Langevin functions.
Keywords: Superconducting rings, Ginzburg-Landau, Kramer Watts-Tobin, Langevin
J. Berger, Ginzburg-Landau Equations with Consistent Langevin Terms for Nonuniform Wires, Phys.
Rev. B 75 pp. 184522 (1-18), 2007.
A. Gero and E. Akkermans, Superradiance and multiple scattering of photons in atomic gases, Phys.
Rev. A 75, 053413, 2007.
A. Gero and E. Akkermans, Superradiance and multiple scattering of photons in atomic gases, Virtual
58
59
Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology, 2007.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
A. Kanda, B. J. Baelus, D. Y. Vodolazov, J. Berger, R. Furugen, Y. Ootuka, and F. M. Peeters, Evidence
for a different type of vortex that mediates a continuous fluxoid-state transition in a mesoscopic
superconducting ring, Phys. Rev. B 76, pp. 094519 (1-8), 2007
N. Netzer, Dynamics of Stellar Outflows, Baltic Astronomy 16, 120-122
N. Netzer, The Role of Emission Lines in Quasi-Stellar Objects, in Redshifts of Quasi-Stellar Objects,
editor: D. Basu, Published by Research Signpost (in Press)
J. Berger, Y. Oreg, D. Shahar and B. Shapiro (eds.), Superconductivity and its Applications, Physica
C, (468) 2008
FLUCTUATIONS & PHASE TRANSITIONS IN SUPERCONDUCTORS
June 10-14, 2007
Bar-Ilan University (Ramat-Gan, Israel)
ORT Braude College (Karmiel, Israel)
The Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel)
announce the Research Workshop of the Israel Science Foundation
FLUCTUATIONS & PHASE TRANSITIONS IN SUPERCONDUCTORS
which will be held on June 10-14, 2007
at Hotel Plaza, Nazareth Ilit, Israel
Topics:
• Superconductor-insulator transition
• Superconductivity in low dimensions
• Fluctuations and non-equilibrium phenomena in superconductors
• Mesoscopic and nanoscopic structures
International Advisory Committee
V. Gantmakher (Chernogolovka)
J. Kirtley (IBM)
A. Leggett (Illinois)
Z. Tesanovic (Johns Hopkins)
Local Organizing Committee
J. Berger (Braude)
Y. Oreg (Weizmann)
D. Shahar (Weizmann)
B. Shapiro (Bar Ilan)
Additional Information: fluctuations@braude.ac.il
Supported by:
The Israel Science Foundation, The Weizmann Institute of Science,
Bar-Ilan University, ORT Braude College, Ricor Systems
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DEPARTMENT OF
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING &
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING, SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
AND DESIGN METHODOLOGIES
Zeev Barzily, Mati Golani, Eliezer Kantorovich and Avi Soffer
Software engineering is concerned with the study and application of a systematic, disciplined
and quantifiable approach to development; operation and maintenance of software. It involves
both computer science and engineering principles and practices towards improved handling of
requirements, specification, design, implementation and verification of software systems. It is also
incorporates database design and optimization, as well as architecture design methodologies.
Software Engineering research involves developing applying technologies and practices from
computer science, project management, engineering application domains, interface design, digital
asset management and other such fields.
Keywords: Software engineering, Requirements engineering, Specification and design
GENERALIZED CONVOLUTION THEORY
Renata Avros, Dvora Toledano-Kitai and Zeev Volkovich
> Prof. Zeev Volkovich
Ph.D., Department Head
Generalized convolution theory is a notable area of modern probability theory. A new analytical
approach in this field has been offered by Volkovich. Apparently, one of the most known
realizations of this construction is named “Volkovich Convolution”. Recent research studies are
focused on the search for new analytical tools that will provide a solution of the convolutions
embedding problem.
Keywords: Generalized convolution, general integral transforms, stochastic modeling
RESEARCH AREAS
INFORMATION THEORY AND CODING THEORY
Biniamin Mounits, Zeev Volkovich and Orly Yahalom
DATA MINING, TEXT MINING
Renata Avros, Zeev Barzily, Mati Golani, Katerina Korenblat, Dvora Toledano-Kitai, and Zeev Volkovich
Data mining deals with data understanding and data interpretation presented as usual in large
datasets. The main research topic in this area is the cluster validation problem. Resting upon
modern statistical and computational tools, several new cluster stability criteria have been
offered together with applications to text mining problems, like authorship recognition and
themes selection.
Keywords: clustering, feature selection, cluster validation, unsupervised learning
The research in this area is concerned with finding upper bounds for the maximal cardinality of codes
of given block length with respect to the minimum hamming distance over finite fields. We search for
bounds for the minimum average distance for subsets in metric association schemes. In addition, we
wish to develop construction methods for constant weight codes and algebraic geometry codes with
improved parameters.
Keywords: Information theory, coding theory, bounds on codes, association schemes
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING, MODEL-DRIVEN SYSTEMS AND
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Zeev Barzily, Mati Golani, Eliezer Kantorovich and Avi Soffer
BIOINFORMATICS
Alex Bolshoy, Katerina Korenblat and Zeev Volkovich
The research in this area is mainly concentrated on two directions. The first concerning the organisms’
classification using properties of DNA sequences. The second deals with feature selection in the
microarray data arrangement. Particularly, the problem of active genes selection in Leukemia diagnoses
is considered.
Keywords: genomes classification, microarray analysis, features selection
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Knowledge Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves integrating knowledge into
computer systems in order to solve complex problems, normally requiring a high level of human
expertise by building, maintaining and development of knowledge-based systems. Knowledge
engineering has a great deal in common with software engineering, and it is related to many
computer science domains such as artificial intelligence, database systems, data mining, expert
systems, decision support systems and management information systems.
Model-driven engineering (MDE) is a software development methodology which focuses on creating
models, or abstractions, related to particular domain concepts. It is meant to increase productivity
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by maximizing compatibility between systems, simplifying the process of system development and
maintenance, and promoting communication between individuals and teams working on the system.
COMPILER OPTIMIZATIONS
Keywords: Knowledge Engineering, Model-driven Engineering
New hardware architectures (such as VLIW, FPGA, PIPELINE etc.) require new code optimizations
for parallelizing the compiled code. This research involves developing algorithms to exploit the
new architectures’ parallel components efficiently.
TRAJECTORY PLANNING FOR MULTI AGENT SYSTEMS
Miri Weiss-Cohen, Gidon Avigad (Department of Mech. Engineering) and Erela Eisenstadt (Department
of Mech. Engineering)
Esti Stein and Yosi Ben-Asher (Haifa University)
Keywords: Parallel architectures, FPGA, VLIW, parallelized code, compiler optimizations
Planning free collision trajectories for cooperating multi agent systems, by using different
evolutionary approaches. The research involves the optimization of agents’ trajectories, which are
subjected to reciprocal constraints, such as: distance between the agents lesser than a predefined
distance, keeping the distance between the agents greater than a predefined distance (avoiding
collisions); always allow an eye of sight contact between the agents; always occupy one agent at
each sub-workspace. The research includes developing new tools of combining B- Splines, NURBS
curves and genetic algorithms.
Keywords: Multi agents, path planning, evolutionary algorithms
> Ms. E. Stein presenting a paper
SCULPTURED SURFACES COVERAGE OF 3D SOLIDS USING GA
Miri Weiss-Cohen
NURBS Surfaces for 3D solids, as the solid is arranged on a flat surface. The research aims to
optimize the residue of non covered surface, and the gap between the covering 3D solid and the
sculptured surface. This optimization involves using Genetic Algorithms for defining the optimal
mesh for the surface.
Keywords: NURBS Surfaces, Surface coverage
WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
Peter Soreanu and Zeev Volkovich
Wireless sensor networks-related research is a hot topic, due to technological advances that allow
for new and complex applications. Performance improvements, mostly energy, efficiency and
security related, are of outmost importance in this field. The main research topic concentrates
on energy-efficient routing, sensing, data fusion and communication algorithms. Other related
topics in which we currently actively research are: efficient clustering, mobile sensors, and security
and tracking issues.
Keywords: WSN, wireless sensor networks, energy efficient, sensing models, sensing coverage, wsn jamming, malicious
node, object tracking
RECONFIGURABLE ARCHITECTURES
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CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
STABILITY PROBLEMS FOR STOCHASTIC MODELS
October 2007
DATA MINING AND DATA BASES
April 2008
REFEREED PAPERS
Z. Barzily, Z. Volkovich, B. Akteke-Ozturk and G. W. Weber, On a Minimal Spanning Tree Approach
in the Cluster Validation Problem, Informatica 2, (20), 2009.
A. Bolshoy and Z. Volkovich, Whole-Genome Prokaryotic Clustering Based on Gene Lengths, The Journal
of Combinatorial Algorithms, Informatics and Computational Sciences, 10, (157), 2009, 2378 2387.
Esti Stein and Yosi Ben-Asher (Haifa University)
A. Grusho, E. Timonina, Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, Consistent Criteria for Sequences on Finite
Spaces, Informatica, 2009
The research mainly involves developing algorithms for existing architectures such as FPGA,
and future architecture models such as Reconfigurable Mesh. These architectures have parallel
components, and are mostly used to accelerate the execution time of programs or algorithms.
L. Kozobay-Avraham, S. Hosid, Z. Volkovich and A. Bolshoy, Prokaryote Clustering Based on DNA
Curvature Distributions, The Journal of Combinatorial Algorithms, Informatics and Computational
Sciences, (157), 2009, 2370-2377.
Keywords: Reconfigurable mesh, FPGA, parallel algorithms, parallel processing
E. Pancheva, I. Mitov and Z. Volkovich, Relationship between Extremer and Sum Processes
Generated by yhe Same Point Process, Serdica Mathematical Journal, no. 2, 2009.
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A. Soffer and D. Dori, Bridging the Requirements-Implementation Modeling Gap with ObjectProcess Methodology. Journal on Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering, 1, (5), 2009.
P. Soreanu, Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily and M. Golani, Mitigating Jamming Attacks in Wireless Sensor
Networks: an Energy-Efficient Method in a Mobile Jammer Environment, International Journal of
Pure and Applied Mathematics (UJPAM), 2009
Z. Volkovich, V. Kirzhner, Z. Barzily, S. Hosid and K. Korenblat, A Linguistic Approach to Classification
of Bacterial Genomes, Pattern Recognition, 2009
M. Weiss-Cohen, A. Bondarenko and Y. Halevi, Reconstruction of 3D Models from Measurements
Obtained by a Moving Sensor, Computer-Aided Design and Application (CAD&A), (47), 2009,
103-114.
M. Golani, Workflow Search Space Reduction – a Model Driven Approach. International Journal of
Pure and Applied Mathematics (IJPAM), (44/2), 2008, 265-280.
B. Mounits, Lower Bounds on the Minimum Average Distance of Binary Codes, Discrete Mathematics,
24(308), 2008, 6241-6253.
ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION
E. Fischer, O. Lachish, A. Matsliah, I. Newman and O. Yahalom, On the Query Complexity of Testing
Orientations for being Eulerian, ACM Transactions on Algorithms.
E. Fischer and O. Yahalom, Testing Convexity Properties of Tree Colorings, Algorithmica, doi 10.1007/
s00453-009-9368-2, 2009.
Z. Volkovich, D. Toledano-Kitai, and R. Avros, On Analytical Properties of Generalized Convolutions,
Banach Center Publications, Institute of Mathematics, Polish Academy of Sciences Warszawa,
(invited paper, to appear)
PUBLISHED BOOKS
O. Muller and B. Haberman, Supporting Abstraction Processes in Problem-Solving through PatternOriented-Instruction, Computer Science Education, 18(3), 2008, 187-212.
A. L. Rukhin and Z. Volkovich, Testing Randomness via a Periodic Words, the Journal of Statistical
Computation and Simulation, 12(78), 2008, 1–12.
Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily, and L. Morozensky, A statistical Model of Cluster Stability, Pattern
Recognition, 7(41), 2008, 2174 2188.
M. Weiss-Cohen, A. Bondarenko and Y. Halevi, Experimentally Obtained Measurements for
Reconstruction of ORThographic Views, SMI Special Issue:Mathematical and Computer Modeling in
Applied Problems, 2008, 112-125.
M. Weiss-Cohen, I. Sirotin and E. Rave, GrasSmart, An Intelligent Robotic System for Continuous
Area Coverage, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (5177), 2008, 650-657.
E. Pancheva, Z. Volkovich, and L. Morozensky, Upper and Lower Bounds for Ruin Probability, Pliska
Studia Mathematica Bulgarica, 18, 2007, 315-326.
Z. Volkovich, J. Kogan and C. Nicholas, Building initial partitions through sampling techniques,
European Journal of Operational Research 3(183), 2007, 1097-1105.
A. Grusho, E. Timonina, Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, On a Probabilistic Model of Intrusion Detection,
International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IJPAM), 1(34), 2007, 39-50.
V. Kirzhner, A. Paz, Z. Volkovich, E. Nevo and A. Korol, Different Clustering of Genomes Across Life
Using the A-T-C-G and Degenerate R-Y Alphabets: Early and late Signaling on Genome Evolution?,
Journal of Molecular Evolution 4(64), 2007, 448-456.
B. Mounits, T. Etzion and S. Litsyn, Upper Bounds on Codes via Association Schemes and Linear
Programming, Advances in Mathematics of Communications, 2(1), 2007, 173-195.
S. Litsyn and B. Mounits, Improved Lower Bounds on Sizes of Single-Error Correcting Codes, Designs,
Codes and Cryptography, 1(42), 2007, 67 – 72.
M. Weiss-Cohen, Reconstruction of Solids Models from ORThographic Views using Knowledge Retrieval
and Composite Graphs, Computer-Aided Design and Application (CAD&A), (45), 2007, 159-167.
66
M. Golani, Adaptive and Flexible Exception Management in Uncertain Environments. Handbook
of Research on Complex Dynamic Process Management, IGI global, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60566669-3
Z. Barzily, M. Golani and Z. Volkovich, On a Simulation Approach to Cluster Stability Validation,
special issue, Mathematical and Computer Modeling in Applied Problems, Institute Informatics
Problems, RAS, 86-112, 2008.
S. Shorgin and Z. Volkovich, Systems and Means of Informatics, special issue, Mathematical and
Computer Modeling in Applied Problems, Institute Informatics Problems, RAS, 2008.
D. Toledano-Kitai, F. Yacobzon and D. Shoikhet, Differential Calculus in One Variable, Magness
Press, 2008.
Z. Volkovich, V. Kirzhner and Z. Barzily, On a Linguistic Classification of the Bacterial Genome,
Systems and Means of Informatics, special issue, Mathematical and Computer Modeling in Applied
Problems, Institute Informatics Problems, RAS, 6-15, 2008.
REFERRED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
A. Grusho, E. Timonina and Z. Volkovich, On Consistent Criteria for Non-Consistent Alternatives,
The XIII International Conference Applied Stochastic Models and Data Analysis (ASMDA 2009),
Vilnius, 2009.
A. Grusho, E. Timonina, Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, On Asymptotical Equivalence of Statistical
Criteria in Discrete Problems, The 23rd European Conference on Operational Research, Bonn, 2009.
S. Hosid, Z. Volkovich and A. Bolshoy, Genomic Clustering Based on Linguistic Complexity Profiles,
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Genome Informatics Conference, 2009.
67
K. Korenblat, Z. Volkovich and A. Bolshoy, Whole-Genome Prokaryotic Clustering Based on Gene
Lengths, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Genome Informatics Conference, 2009.
Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, On Application of Probability Metrics in the Cluster Stability Problem, 1st
European Conference on Data Mining (ECDM’07), Lisbon, 2007.
Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily, R. Avros and D. Toledano-Kitai, K-Nearest Neighbors’ Stochastic Models in
the Cluster Stability Problem, The 23rd European conference on Operational Research, Bonn, 2009.
Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily, B. Akteke-Ozturk and G. W. Weber, Cluster Stability using Minimal Spanning
Trees, 22nd European on Operational Research Conference EURO XXII, Prague, Czech Republic, 2007.
Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily, R. Avros and D. Toledano-Kitai, On Application of the K-Nearest Neighbors
Approach for Cluster Validation, The XIII International Conference Applied Stochastic Models and
Data Analysis (ASMDA 2009), Vilnius, 2009.
M. Weiss-Cohen, 3D Reconstruction of Solid Models from Engineering ORThographic Views using
Variational Geometry and Composite Graphs,IAENG International Conference on Image EngineeringICIE’07, Hong Kong, 2007.
Z. Volkovich, Z. Barzily, G.-W. Weber and D. Toledano-Kitai, Cluster Stability Estimation Based on
a Minimal Spanning Trees Approach, the 2nd Global Conference on Power and Optimization
(PCO2009), Bali, Indonesia, 2009.
M. Weiss-Cohen, A. Bondarenko and Y. Halevi, Reconstruction of 3D Models from Measurements
Obtained by a Moving Sensor, CAD ‘09, Reno, Nevada, USA, 2009.
Z. Barzily, Z. Volkovich, B. Akteke-Ozturk and G. W. Weber, Cluster, Stability Using Minimal Spanning
Trees, Proceedings of 20th Mini Conference, Continuous Optimization and Knowledge-Based
Technologies, EurOPT’ 2008, Lithuania, 2008.
E. Fischer, O. Lachish, A. Matsliah, I. Newman and O. Yahalom, On the query complexity of testing
orientations for being Eulerian, Proc. of APPROX-RANDOM, LNCS 5171, 402-415, 2008.
P. Soreanu, Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, Energy-Efficient Predictive Jamming Holes Detection
Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks, Sensor Technologies and Applications, SENSORCOMM ‘08,
2nd International Conference, 2008.
M. Weiss-Cohen, I. Sirotin and E. Rave, GrasSmart, An Intelligent Robotic System for Continuous
Area Coverage, 12th International Conference, KES 2008, Zagreb, Croatia, 2008.
S. Cohen and A. Soffer, Scrutinizing UML and OPM Modeling Capabilities with Respect to Systems
Engineering. Proccedings of the International Conference on Systems Engineering and Modeling
(ICSEM’07), Herzelia, Haifa, Israel, 2007.
E. Fischer and O. Yahalom, Testing Convexity Properties of Tree Colorings, Proc. of International
Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science, STACS 2007, LNCS 4393, 109-120, 2007.
M. Golani, A. Gal and E. Toch, Modeling Alternatives in Exception Execution. BPM 2007 International
Workshops, BPI, BPD, CBP, ProHealth, RefMod, semantics4ws, Brisbane, Australia, 2007.
M. Golani, A. Gal and E. Toch. Modeling Alternatives in Exception Handling. Informal Proceedings
of the workshop in Business Process Intelligence BPI 2007.
E. Kantorowitz, Estimating the Number of Required Code Inspectors, XXVI International Seminar
Stability Problems for Stochastic Models, Israel, 2007.
E. Kantorowitz, T. Kuflik and A. Raginsky, Estimating the Required Code Inspection Team Size, IEEE
International Conference on Software - Science, Technology and Engineering 2007,(SwSTE 2007).
A. Soffer and S. Cohen, Alleviating Complexity of Modeling in System Engineering Tools. Proccedings
of the International Conference on Systems Engineering and Modeling (ICSEM’07), Herzelia, Haifa,
Israel, 2007.
Z. Volkovich and Z. Barzily, On a Statistical Model of Cluster Stability, PASCAL Workshop on stability
and resampling methods for clustering, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tubingen,
Germany, 2007.
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DEPARTMENT OF
TEACHING
The research focuses on two aspects: (1) perceptions of student’s participants in the peerlearning workshops (qualitative level) and their achievements (quantitative level); (2) perceptions
of students’ leaders.
We found that the students who consistently participated in the workshops found them useful and
applicable. In all courses, the high and low students’ achievers that participated in the workshops
got significantly better scores at the end of the course than the students who didn’t participate in
the workshops.
Keywords: Peer learning, Team Leaders
> Dr. Orna Muller
Ph.D., Department Head
> Student leader in active workshop
DEVELOPING A PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTING UNDERACHIEVER STUDENTS
RESEARCH AREAS
PROMOTING STUDENTS’ LEARNING AND THINKING SKILLS
THE EFFECT OF LEARNING SKILLS’ COURSES ON STUDENTS IN AN ACADEMIC ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Orit Herscovitz and S. Israeli (Technion)
In order to promote students’ effective learning, several courses that emphasize the development of
learning and thinking skills were integrated into the curriculum of the first year studies. The process
of integrating the courses was assessed by a follow-up research.
The research main objectives were: (a) to learn about students’ perceptions regarding the learning
skills’ course and the contributions to their learning process; (b) to learn if and how the students
implement the skills.
Keywords: Higher education learning, learning skills, orientation courses, students’ perceptions
PEER-LEARNING WORKSHOPS FOR SUPPORTING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS’ LEARNING
Orit Herscovitz, Orna Muller and Miri Shacham
The Group Leaders’ Project in ORT Braude College is aimed to promote first year students’ learning.
The project embodies students leading workshops for developing self-learning in courses with high
rates of failures.
70
Arnona Etzion, Orna Muller, Miri Shacham, and Hagit Even-Zur (Support Center for Students with
Special Needs)
MALAT program in ORTG73
Braude College aims to promote learning abilities in order to lower the drop-out rate among
first year students with potential to succeed. The students undergo an interview at the Center for
Teaching and Learning and then are recommended to get a suitable support.
The formative research accompanying the program focuses on revealing the sources of difficulties
and reasons for failure among students who participated in the MALAT program, and following the
effectiveness of the various supporting tools that students benefit in this program.
Keywords: Academic support, learning abilities
“PERSONAL COACHING” AS A TOOL FOR ASSISTING UNDERACHIEVER STUDENTS
Orit Herscovitz, Miri Shacham and Ita Donner (Biotechnology Engineering)
As a part of MALAT program, some of the students receive personal coaching carried out by a trained
lecturer. The main research goal is to explore the process of personal coaching from the student’s
and the coacher’s point of view. We have found that the students went through a change of taking
a full responsibility for the decision-making concerning their learning process which promotes their
success. The trained lecturers who conducted the coaching felt that by the close exposure to different
students and learning style, they acquired important tools for their professional development.
Keywords: Coaching, under achieving academic status, self regulation
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DEVELOPING ALGORITHMIC PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS – COURSE EVALUATION
Orna Muller and Bruria Haberman (Holon Institute of Technology)
Our research goal was the evaluation of one of the courses for improving learning and thinking
skills introduced by the Teaching & Learning Center to students from the Departments of Software
Engineering. and Industrial Engineering and Management. Course design elaborates on analogical
reasoning, prototyping problems, comparison between alternative solutions to a problem and
reflection on problem-solving processes. The course was examined with regard to main skills
acquired in the course, its content and structure, and the desirable relationship between this course
and the Introduction to Computer Science course. Students reflected on acquiring general problemsolving skills, awareness to distinct abstraction levels, a shift towards mature norms of approaching
a problem and the advantages of keeping the two courses separated.
Keywords: solving, Instructional design
in Hebrew. It was also found that university students are aware of the Internet sites supporting the
course textbooks and are assisted by online learning materials far more than college students.
Keywords: Textbook reading, Internet sites usage
EMPLOYING A MARKETING APPROACH TO CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
FOR THE ENGINEERING STUDENT
David Pundak and Arie Maharshak (Industrial Engineering and Management)
The study investigates the engineering student’s world, special needs and attitudes – during
first year academic studies – from a marketing viewpoint. It examines students’ attitudes
regarding textbook reading and use of Internet sites as a supportive environment for basic
courses. The students participated in research related to: reading habits before and during
academic studies, preferred language for textbooks (English or Hebrew), reading skills and use of
on-line learning materials.
ACTIVE LEARNING AND INNOVATION IN TEACHING
INSTRUCTORS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD ACTIVE LEARNING
Keywords: students’ needs, reading habits, textbooks, online learning
Orit Herscovitz, David Pundak, Miri Shacham and Rivka Wizer-Biton (Biotechnology Engineering)
CASE-BASED LEARNING
This research aims to recognize and measure the adoption level of innovation in teaching methods.
A diagnostic tool for measuring instructors’ beliefs was developed, including 35 valid items in six
categories: (a) Large Class - Activation of a large class, (b) Involvement - Student involvement in the
course, (c) Independence - Independent learning by students, (d) Development of knowledge - by
students, (e) Quantity versus understanding - A tendency to prefer understanding of the material to
full completion of the syllabus and (f) Function of instructor - Perception of the role of the instructor.
TEACHING AND ASSESSING THINKING SKILLS IN A CONTEXT-BASED LEARNING UNIT
Keywords: Active Learning, innovation in teaching
Orit Herscovitz, Shirly Avargil (Technion) and Yehudit Judy Dori (Technion)
As part of a new curriculum in science education, a new learning unit was developed, emphasizes
on context-based learning and developing students’ higher order thinking skills. The study
was aimed at (a) determining teachers’ perceptions regarding advantages and difficulties they
experience while teaching in context, (b) characterizing ways in which teachers infuse thinking
skills into their instruction. Based on interviews and classroom observations over two years of
teaching, we found that teachers’ confidence level in teaching the unit evolved from insecurity
to a sense of gained experience. Regarding thinking skills and assessment they moved from
skepticism to recognition of the importance of implementing adapted methods to suit the needs
of this teaching approach.
Keywords: Thinking Skills, Context-based Learning
PERCEIVED VS. ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF STUDENTS IN CHEMICAL EDUCATION
Orit Herscovitz, Shirly Avargil (Technion) and Yehudit Judy Dori (Technion)
> Active learning center – groups’ learning
CHARACTERISTICS OF TEXTBOOK AND ONLINE SOURCES READING
BY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Orit. Herscovitz, David Pundak and Miri Shacham
The study investigated engineering students’ attitudes regarding textbook reading and utilization
of Internet sites as a supportive environment for basic academic courses. 228 freshmen students
from two colleges and one university participated in the research. It was found that both university
and college students invest little time in reading textbooks and that they prefer textbooks written
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Promoting meaningful learning involves a process of self- reflection and self-regulated learning.
This is done while learning the Taste of Chemistry learning unit. The purpose of this study was to
investigate the effect of studying this unit on students’ perceived and actual knowledge of food
chemistry concepts.
We found two factors that can help students improve their understanding of food related concepts:
(1) Exposure to metacognitive thinking by applying the different levels of chemistry understanding
in order to regulate their knowledge and accordingly their answers, and (2) The teacher’s role
in promoting efficient application of metacognitive thinking based on the four chemistry
understanding levels.
Keywords: self- reflection, metacognitive thinking, chemistry understanding
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TEACHING CASE STUDIES IN BILINGUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Orit Herscovitz and Nihal Naser (Technion)
Teaching science through case-studies in bilingual environment raises many difficulties to the
teachers as well as for the students. The research aims to explore the characteristics of casebased teaching in bilingual environment from Arab teachers’ point of view. A special teachers’
attitude questionnaire was developed, based on four main categories: (a) promoting students’
thinking skills, (b) contribution to teacher’s professional development, (c) teaching in bilingual
environment and, (d) students’ assessment. We also used class observations and interviews’
focused on these four categories.
Keywords: case study, bilingual learning environment
ALGORITHMIC PROBLEM SOLVING: COGNITIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASPECTS
Orna Muller and Bruria Haberman (Holon Institute of Technology)
We are conducting ongoing research on various aspects of problem solving in the context of
Computer-Science and programming. The research strives to explore problem-solving behavior
of novices and experts, mapping and understanding novices’ difficulties, design and evaluation
of instruction that promotes the development of problem-solving skills. Problem comprehension
and structure identification, generalization and abstraction, analogical reasoning, efficiency and
elegancy of solutions and verbalization of ideas, are representative examples.
One of the instructional design methods developed and evaluated is Pattern-Oriented Instruction:
learning algorithmic patterns (prototypes) for reinforcing the creation of cognitive schemas
associated with expertise and knowledge organization.
Keywords: Instructional Design, Algorithmic Patterns, Novice-Expert
STRESS AND COPING IN TIMES OF WAR
INTERVENTION & RESEARCH PROJECT “AVENUES OF RESILIENCE” (SDEROT, 2007-2009)
Miri Shacham, Jehudit Spanglet (Ben-Gurion University), and Meirav Tal (Hakibutzim College)
The study was conducted in times of massive shelling on Sderot in 2007-2008. The study explores
how belief and religion influenced the coping resources of women in Sderot and how did the use
of body-oriented psychotherapy aid them in coping with traumatic and continual war situations.
The study uses a special model of coping with trauma - ‘Stream Model’ which was developed in
Israel (Tal, 2006). Research tools are pre- and post-intervention questionnaires.
Keywords: Belief and religion, coping resources, body-oriented psychotherapy
SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ENHANCING COPING RESOURCES
WITH SHELLING AND EVACUATION TRAUMA
Miri Shacham and Carmit Cohen (Ministry of Education)
The program was developed in order to enhance resilience of school population – teachers and
pupils living in communities which had experienced traumatic stress of genuine threat to their
lives in the Second Lebanon War (2006). The program included creative activities like writing,
painting, music, dance - in addition to verbal activities.
74
The study was based upon the Basic Ph Model of Coping and Resiliency (Lahad,2000)which relates
to six major coping modalities that are at the core of an individual’s coping style: Beliefs and
Values, Affect and Emotion, Social, Imagination and Creativity, Cognition and Thought, Physiology
and Activities.
Keywords: Resilience,The “Basic Ph” Model, School programme, War trauma
STRESS REACTIONS AND COPING RESOURCES OF CITIZENS - JEWS AND ARABS - IN TIMES OF WAR
M. Shacham, Mooli Lahad (Tel-Hai College) and Yehuda Shacham (Tel-Hai College)
This longitudinal research evaluates the impact of shelling and evacuation on stress reactions,
coping resources and future preferences of residents in the north of Israel after the Second
Lebanon War in summer 2006.
The research focused on the differences between the two main populations in the targeted area:
Jews and Arabs. The research population was a representative sample of 170 Jewish adults and of
129 Arab adults in the attacked communities.
Keywords: Evacuation, Sress reactions,Coping
RESEARCH ON DOCTORAL EDUCATION
DOCTORAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND CROSS-CULTURAL SUPERVISION
Miri Shacham and Yehudit Od-Cohen (Ohalo College)
This is an ongoing action research (1998-2009) on Ph.D. innovative international programme in
Anglia Ruskin University in UK. The students and their supervisors are being effectively supported
through communities of practice which focus throughout on strategies of meta-learning.
The research aim is to explore the experience of cross cultural supervision as it affects the Ph.D.
process from the supervisors’ and the graduates’ points of view. The conceptual framework deals
with theories of intercultural learning, linguistic and cultural competence and Life Long Learning.
Keywords: cross-cultural supervision, PhD programme, Cultural competence
RESEARCH ON WOMEN IN SCIENCE
GENDERA: GENDER DEBATE IN THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
Judith Abrahami-Einat
EC funded a 30 month project with partners from Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany,
Greece, Spain and Italy. The GENDERA project collects, systemizes and analyses experiences in
gender equity policies and activities on gender balance in different research organizations (from
the higher education sector, the government sector and the business enterprise sector).
The overall objective is to facilitate the implementation of gender balance in science and create
an enabling environment to integrate gender dimension into science policy throughout Europe.
Keywords: gender equity, policies and activities, women in science, comparative studies
75
EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS
W. Christian, M. Belloni and D. Pundak (2008). Multi-Representational Electro-Magnetism and Waves.
Reches, Kadima.
2008-2009 Assessing the Leaders Project, MOFET Institute research committee Grant (36,000 NIS).
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING AND ABSTRACTS
2008 The Pedagogical Council in the Ministry of Education funding for developing a course:
Development of algorithmic problem solving skills.
REFEREED PAPERS
J. Abrahami-Einat, Comparative study of measures to recruit, support and promote women in
academic studies, in particular those considered non traditional 6th Conference on Gender Equity in
Higher Education, Stockholm August 2009.
J. Abrahami-Einat, Does Feminist Pedagogy Reach the field? The First Annual Conference “Gender
and the Field” the Program of Gender Studies, Bar Ilan University, May 2009
M. Barak, O. Herscoviz, Z. Kaberman and Y. J. Dori (2009). MOSAICA: A web-2.0 based system for the
preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. Computers & Education, 53, 841–852.
S. Avargil, O. Herscovitz and Y. J. Dori, Teachers’ perceptions toward context-based learning and
Thinking Skills. First NARST Summer School Research, Institute for Doctoral Student Researchers,
University of Missouri, June, 2009.
B. Haberman, O. Muller and H. Averbuch (2008). Multi-faced problem comprehension: utilizing an
algorithmic idea in different contexts. R.T. Mittermeir, M.M. Syslo (eds.) Lecture Notes in Computer
Science. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 5090, 180-191.
O. Herscovitz, S. Avargil and Y. J. Dori, Students’ Perceived and Actual Knowledge in the “Taste of
Chemistry” Learning Unit. The ESERA conference, Istanbul, Turkey, August, 2009
O. Herscoviz, Z. Kaberman and Y. J. Dori (2007). The “Taste of Chemistry” Unit, Bulletin of Chemistry
Teachers- ALCHEMIA, 11, 39-47.
O. Muller and B. A. Haberman, Course Dedicated to Developing Algorithmic Problem Solving
Skills - Design and Experiment. The 21st annual Psychology of Programming Interest Group (PPIG)
Conference, Limerick, Ireland, June, 2009.
T. Levy-Nahum, D. Ben-Chaim, I. Azaiza, O. Herscoviz And Y. Zoller (2009). Does STES-Oriented
Science Education Promote 10th-grade Students’ Decision Making Capability? International Journal
of Science Education, published online: DOI: 10.1080/09500690903042533
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500690903042533
D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz and M. Shacham, Instructors’ Attitudes toward Active Learning. The 4rd
Chais Conference – Learning in the Technology Era. Open University, Raanana, Israel, February, 2009.
http://telem.openu.ac.il/hp_files/chais/09/articles.html
M. Maoz, O. Herscoviz, M. Sacham and O. Muller (2008). Students leading workshops for promoting
active learning in multiple failed Courses. Bulletin of Higher Education- AL-HGOVA, 7, 65-66.
D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz and M. Shacham. The Development and Implementation of a Tool for
Diagnosing Innovation in Academic Teaching. Innovation in Learning communities, EDEN 2009
Annual Conference. Gdansk, Poland, June, 2009.
O. Muller and B. Haberman (2008). “Supporting abstraction processes in problem-solving through
pattern-oriented-instruction”. Computer Science Education. 18(3), 187-212.
D. Pundak, O. Herscoviz, M. Shacham, and R. Weizer-Biton (2009). Instructors’ Attitudes toward
Active Learning. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 5, 215-232.
http://ijello.org/Volume5/IJELLOv5p215-232Pundak669.pdf
D. Pundak and S. Rozner (2007). Empowering Engineering College Staff to Adopt Active Learning
Methods. Journal of Science Education and Technology.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/h46m45057240r016/
D. Pundak, S. Rozner, F. Yacobson and D. Toledano-Kitay (2008). How to adopt Active Learning? Al
Hagova – Journal on Teaching in Higher Education, Tel-Aviv. 7, 18-21.
M. Shacham and Y. Od-Cohen (2009). Rethinking PhD Learning Incorporating Communities of Practice
and Lifelong Learning, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, vol 46,no.3,279-293
G. Wisker, G. Robinson and M. Shacham (2007). Postgraduate research success:communities of practice
involving cohorts, guardian supervisers and online communities. Innovations in Education and Teaching
International, vol.44,no.3,pp 301-320
76
M. Shacham and J. Od-Cohen. Doctoral Learning Communities and Cross Cultural Supervision,
EARLI 13th Biennial Conference, Budapest, August 2009.
J. Abrahami-Einat, Parenting Girls: Feminist parents and their daughters, a case of mixed messages
The 18th Annual Women’s Studies Conference Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
CT October 2008
S. Avargil, O. Herscovitz. and Y. J. Dori, Taste of Chemistry Learning Unit – Chemistry in Context,
The 73th Meeting of the Israel Chemical Society, Jerusalem, February, 2008
M. Barak, S. Kozyrev, O. Herscovitz and Y. J. Dori, Web-based Virtual Expeditions: Enhancing OpenMindedness among Students. The 6th MITAL Conference, Haifa, August, 2008
B. Haberman, and O. Muller, Teaching abstraction to novices in the course of pattern-based and
ADT-based problem solving processes. Frontiers in Education Conf. Saratoga Springs, New York,
October, 2008.
O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman, M. Barak, and Y. J. Dori, Learning through Exploration of Cultural
Heritage via Virtual Expeditions – A Usability Study, The Annual Chais Conference for Research in
Learning Technologies, Ranana, February, 2008.
77
T. Levy-Nahum, O. Herscovitz, I. Azaiza, D. Ben-Chaim, and U. Zoller, Science Teaching and Students’
Decision-Making Capability: Are They Compatible? The 73th Meeting of the Israel Chemical Society,
Jerusalem, February, 2008.
D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz and M. Shacham, Survey of Instructors’ Tendency to Adopt Innovation in
Teaching. American Association of Physics Teachers National Meeting. Edmonton Alberta, July, 2008.
D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz, D. Toladano-Ktai, R. Wizer-Biton, M. Shacham and F. Yacobson, Lectures’
attitudes towards Active learning. The 6th MITAL Conference, Haifa, August, 2008.
M. Shacham and M. Lahad, The impact of 2006 Lebanon War on PTSD,Community Resilience and
Future Preferences of Jews and Arabs, The Conference of New Researches in the Galilee, Tel-Hai
College,Israel, June 2008.
O. Herscovitz, S. Avargil, Z. Kaberman and Y. J. Dori, Principles, thinking skills, and implementation
of the Taste of Chemistry module, The 72th Meeting of the Israel Chemical Society, Tel-Aviv,
January, 2007.
O. Muller, B. Haberman and D. Ginat, Pattern-oriented instruction and its influence on problem
decomposition and solution construction. The 12th Annual Conf. on Innovation and Technology
in Computer Science - ITiCSE’07, Dundee, Scotland, June 2007. [also appeared in: SIGCSE Bulletin,
39(3), 151-155].
M. Shacham, Stress Reactions, Coping Resources and Future Preferences of Jews And Arabs in times
of Shelling and Evacuation, The Europea Conference on Traumatic Stress, Croatia June, 2007.
M. Shacham and C. Cohen, School Programme for Enhancing Teachers’ and Pupils’ Coping Resources
with the Trauma of Shelling and Evacuation, Teacher Education at a Crossroads, Mofet Institute, Tel
Aviv,June, 2007.
G. Wisker, G. Robinson and M. Shacham. Sustaining Postgraduate Student Learning: Threshold
Concepts Conceptual Thresholds and Communities of Practice, EARLY Conference, Budapest, Hungary,
August 2007.
78
79
LIST OF RESEARCHERS
80
FIRST NAME
FAMILY NAME
E-MAIL
Radu
Florescu
raduflorescu@netscape.net
Tamar
Gadrich
tamarg@braude.ac.il
Shmuel
Gazit
sgazit@braude.ac.il
Aharon
Gero
gero@braude.ac.il
Michael
Gladshtein
mgladsht@ort.org.il
Valery
Glizer
valery@techunix.technion.ac.il
FIRST NAME
FAMILY NAME
E-MAIL
Idit
Golani
igolani@braude.ac.il
Judith
Abrahami-Einat
jabrahami@braude.com
Mati
Golani
matig@braude.ac.il
Buma
Abramovitz
abbuma@braude.ac.il
Alexander
Goldvard
goldvard@braude.ac.il
David
Alperstein
davida@braude.ac.il
Maria
Grozovski
mgrozovs@gmail.com
Yohanan
Arzi
arzi_y@braude.ac.il
Orit
Herscovitz
orither@surfree.net.il
Gideon
Avigad
gideona@braude.ac.il
Maya
Kaner
kmaya@braude.ac.il
Renata
Avros
renata_avrose@yahoo.com
Eliezer
Kantarovich
kantor@cs.technion.ac.il
Roza
Azhari
razhari@braude.ac.il
Lavi
Karp
karp2@braude.ac.il
Zeev
Barzily
zbarzily@braude.ac.il
Oleg
Kelis
kelisoleg@yahoo.com
Emil
Bashkansky
ebashkan@braude.ac.il
Victor
Khatskevich
victor_kh@hotmail.com
Uri
Ben-Hanan
ubenhana@braude.ac.il
Dafna
Knani
dknani@ort.org.il
Miryam
Berezina
berezm@tx.technion.ac.il
Peter
Konvalina
pkonvali@ort.org.il
Jorge
Berger
jorge.berger@braude.ac.il
Sigal
Korem
sigalc@ort.org.il
Alex
Bolshoy
bolshoy@research.haifa.ac.il
Samuel
Kosolapov
ssk1953@gmail.com
Eugenia
Bubis,
jbubis@netvision.net.il
Ditza
Levin
dlevin@braude.ac.il
Vladimir
Chechik
vchechik@braude.ac.il
Marina
Levenshtein
marina.levenshtein@gmail.com
Tova
Cohen
tocohen@braude.ac.il
Yacov
Lutsky
yalutsky@yahoo.com
Ita
Donner
idonner@braude.ac.il
Arie
Maharshak
am@braude.ac.il
Suki
Dror
dror@braude.ac.il
Michal
Maoz
mmaoz@braude.ac.il
Erella
Eisenstadt
erella@braude.ac.il
Shmuel
Miller
miller_s@inter.net.il
Mark
Elin
mark_elin@braude.ac.il
Lea
Mor
leamoril@yahoo.com
Emma
Elkind
eelkind@braude.ac.il
Biniamin
Mounits
b.mounits@gmail.com
Hagit
Even-Tzur
Orna
Muller
ornamu@braude.ac.il
Arnona
Ezion
arnonaet@walla.co.il
Orna
Muller
ornamu@braude.ac.il
Hana
Faiger
hfaiger@yahoo.com
Hussein
Naseraldin
nhussein@braude.ac.il
Doron
Faran
dfaran@braude.ac.il
Nathan
Netzer
netzer@braude.ac.il
81
82
FIRST NAME
FAMILY NAME
E-MAIL
Victor
Ostrovski
vostrovs@braude.ac.il
Hilla
Peretz
hillap@braude.ac.il
Elena
Pogrevnyak
elena@techunix.technion.ac.il
David
Pundak
dpundak@braude.ac.il
Rachel
Ravid
ravidmi@zahav.net.il
Eli
Raz
eliraz@braude.ac.il
Michael
Regev
michaelr@braude.ac.il
Zeev
Rubin
zrubin@braude.ac.il
Nissim
Sabag
nsabag@017.net.il
Isam
Sabbah
isabbah@braude.ac.il
Mereì
Sammar
jawadaseel@yahoo.com
Rona
Sarfaty
ronasarfaty@gmail.com
Pinchas
Schechner
pschechner@013.net.il
Menahem
Shay
menis@tx.technion.ac.il
Boris
Shnits
shnitsb@tx.technion.ac.il
David
Shoikhet
davs@braude.ac.il
Ludmila
Shvartsman
lshv@techunix.technion.ac.il
Avi
Soffer
asoffer@braude.ac.il
Peter
Soreanu
speter1@usa.net
Esti
Stein
estein@ort.org.il
Dvora
Toledano-Kitai
dvora@braude.ac.il
Elena
Trotskovsky
elenatro@braude.ac.il
Vladimir
Turetsky
turetsky@aerodyne.technion.ac.il
Zeev
Volkovich
zeev@actcom.co.il
Rivka
Weiser-Biton
rivkaw@braude.ac.il
Avraham
Weiss
avi@braude.ac.il
Miri
Weiss-Cohen
mweiss@ort.org.il
Iris S.
Weitz
irisweitz@yahoo.com
Fiana
Yacobzon
fiana@braude.ac.il
Orly
Yahalom
oyahalom@cs.technion.ac.il
Yitzchak
Yifrach
yifrach@braude.ac.il
Natalia
Zaitsev
nzaitsev@ort.org.il
ORT BRAUDE COLLEGE
51 SNUNIT ST., KARMIEL, 21982, ISRAEL | www.braude.ac .il