Because of the interplay among many fields of mathematics and science, algebraic combinatorics is an area in which a wide variety of ideas and methods come together. The papers in this volume reflect the most interesting aspects of this rich interaction, and will be of interest to researchers in discrete mathematics and combinatorial systems.

Because of the inteplay among many fields of mathematics and science, algebraic combinatorics is an area in which a wide variety of ideas and methods come together. The papers in this volume reflect the most interesting aspects of this rich interaction and will be of interest to researchers in discrete mathematics and combinatorial systems.

Algorithmic and quantitative aspects in real algebraic geometry are becoming increasingly important areas of research because of their roles in other areas of mathematics and computer science. The papers in this volume collectively span several different areas of current research. The articles are based on talks given at the DIMACS Workshop on ``Algorithmic and Quantitative Aspects of Real Algebraic Geometry''. Topics include deciding basic algebraic properties of real semi-algebraic sets, application of quantitative results in real algebraic geometry towards investigating the computational complexity of various problems, algorithmic and quantitative questions in real enumerative geometry, new approaches towards solving decision problems in semi-algebraic geometry, as well as computing algebraic certificates, and applications of real algebraic geometry to concrete problems arising in robotics and computer graphics. The book is intended for researchers interested in computational methods in algebra.

In these papers associated with the workshop of December 2003, contributors describe their work in fountain codes for lossless data compression, an application of coding theory to universal lossless source coding performance bounds, expander graphs and codes, multilevel expander codes, low parity check lattices, sparse factor graph representations of Reed-Solomon and related codes. Interpolation multiplicity assignment algorithms for algebraic soft- decision decoding of Reed-Solomon codes, the capacity of two- dimensional weight-constrained memories, networks of two-way channels, and a new approach to the design of digital communication systems. Annotation :2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

This volume is the result of the Third DIMACS Implementation Challenge that was conducted as part of the 1993-94 Special year on Parallel Algorithms. The Implementation Challenge was formulated in order to provide a forum for a concerted effort to study effective algorithms for combinatorial problems and to investigate opportunities for massive speed-ups on parallel computers. The challenge invluded two problem areas for research study: tree searching, algorithms, used in game search and combinatorial optimization, for example, and algorithms for sparse graphs. Participants at sites in the US and Europe undertook projects from November 1993 through October 1994. The workshop was held at DIMACS in November 1994. Participants were encouraged to share test results, to rework their implementations considering feedback at the workshop, and to submit a final report for the proceedings. Nine papers were selected for this volume.

This volume features highlights from the DIMACS Special Year on "Mathematical Support for Molecular Biology". Top researchers presented both new research results and comprehensive overviews on the use of mathematics (especially discrete mathematics) and theoretical computer science in molecular biology. The book provides a unique "snapshot" of this growing area of study. It will be of interest to both experts and novices seeking information on the state of the research.

Based on a March 2001 workshop, this collection explores connections between random graphs and percolation, between slow mixing and phase transition, and between graph morphisms and hard-constraint models. Topics of the 14 papers include efficient local search near phase transitions in combinatorial optimization, graph homomorphisms and long range action, recent results on parameterized H-colorings, the satisfiability of random k-Horn formulae, a discrete non-Pfaffian approach to the Ising problem, and chromatic numbers of products of tournaments. No indexes are provided. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

The workshop "Groups and Computations" took place at the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS) at Rutgers University in June 1995. This and an earlier workshop held in October 1991 was aimed at merging theory and practice within the broad area of computation with groups. The primary goal of the previous workshop was to foster a dialogue between researchers studying the computational complexity of group algorithms and those engaged in the development of practical software. It was expected that this would lead to a deeper understanding of the mathematical issues underlying group computation and that this understanding would lead, in turn, to faster algorithms. Comments and subsequent work indicated that this goal had been achieved beyond expectations. The second workshop was designed to reinforce the progress in these directions. The scientific program consisted of invited lectures and research announcements, as well as informal discussions and software demonstrations. The eight extended talks discussed randomization, permutation groups, matrix groups, software systems, fast Fourier transforms and their applications to signal processing and data analysis, computations with finitely presented groups, and implementation and complexity questions. As in the previous workshop, speakers ranged from established researchers to graduate students.

This book presents surveys on the theory and practice of modeling, specifying, and validating concurrent systems. It contains surveys of techniques used in tools developed for automatic validation of systems. Other papers present recent developments in concurrency theory, logics of programs, model-checking, automata, and formal languages theory. The volume contains the proceedings from the workshop, Partial Order Methods in Verification, which was held in Princeton, NJ, in July 1996. The workshop focused on both the practical and the theoretical aspects of using partial order models, including automata and formal languages, category theory, concurrency theory, logic, process algebra, program semantics, specification and verification, topology, and trace theory. The book also includes a lively e-mail debate that took place about the importance of the partial order dichotomy in modeling concurrency.

This volume presents the proceedings of a conference held at Princeton University in April 1995 as part of the DIMACS Special Year on Mathematical Support for Molecular Biology. The subject of the conference was the new area of DNA based computing. DNA based computing is the study of using DNA strands as individual computers. The concept was initiated by Leonard Adleman's paper in Science in November 1994.