Ο στόχος της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη μια java εφαρμογής μέσω της οποίας ο χρήστης θα έχει τη δυνατότητα να εισαγάγει συναρτήσεις Boole προκειμένου να πραγματοποιηθεί η ελαχιστοποίησή τους. Ο χρήστης έχει τη δυνατότητα να εισαγάγει συναρτήσεις έως και έξι μεταβλητών. Η εισαγωγή της συνάρτησης Boole μπορεί να πραγματοποιηθεί συμπληρώνοντας κατευθείαν τον χάρτη Karnaugh ή εισάγοντας τη συνάρτηση μέσω του πίνακα αληθείας ή εισάγοντας τους ελαχιστόρους, μεγιστόρους και αδιάφορους όρους της συνάρτησης και εισάγοντας τη συνάρτηση στην αλγεβρική της μορφή. Έπειτα ο χρήστης έχει δύο επιλογές, να εμφανίσει την ελαχιστοποιημένη συνάρτηση ως άθροισμα γινομένων ή ως γινόμενο αθροισμάτων. Η ελαχιστοποίηση πραγματοποιήθηκε με χρήση του αλγορίθμου της μεθόδου QuineMcCluskey (μέθοδος κατάταξης σε πίνακα). Στην εφαρμογή υπάρχει δυνατότητα επιλογής γλώσσας (ελληνική ή αγγλική). Επιπλέον, ο χρήστης μπορεί να αλλάξει τα ονόματα των μεταβλητών που χρησιμοποιούνται στις συναρτήσεις με ονόματα δικής του επιλογής. Τέλος, η εφαρμογή πληρεί αρκετές προϋποθέσεις ευχρηστίας, έτσι ώστε να μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί με ευκολία από τους χρήστες. / The scope of this present diploma thesis is the development of a java application with which the user can import boolean functions in order to minimize them. The user has the possibility of importing functions up to six variables. The import of Boolean function could be achieved with filling the Karnaugh map or importing the function via the truth table or importing the minterms or importing the function as an algebra expression. Then the user has two choices, to present the minimized function as sum of products or as products of sum. The minimization was achieved using the method of classification in table, which is known as method QuineMcCluskey. At this application, the user has the possibility to choose the language, either Greek or English as well as to change th name of variables that they are used in the functions. Finally, the application fills enough conditions of usability, so it can be used easily from the users.

Here we introduce a graphical tool that when used correctly will produce a most simplified sum-of-products expression, all without meddling in any simplification of Boolean expressions.

Many digital designs begin with a truth table. In this episode, we do just that, and then create the simplified sum-of-products expression by way of the Karnaugh map.

This study investigates the relationships between firm's technology, absorptive capacity and the internationalization process in the high-tech SMEs. The research identifies the most influential factors that affect the international activities and expansion decisions of New Zealand high-tech SMEs with core capabilities in agro-technology. Mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative elements in the data collection and analysis, were employed in this research for a reason that a deeper understanding of the research subject and the analysis of complex issues such as the internationalization process and absorptive capacity required methodological variety. The use of qualitative and quantitative methods took place in parallel. Both methods were used to study the same subject but they had specific objective related purposes and they offered the possibility of developing rich empirical data as well as a more comprehensive understanding of the subject under the study. The findings show that it is absorptive capacity that explains internationalization process, not internationalization process that explains absorptive capacity. The practice of internationalizing is as much a reflection of a firm's absorptive capacity as it is its determinant. The research identifies that high-tech SMEs possess technological and non-core absorptive capacity which in a different way influence firms' strategies. The research suggests that firm's technological capabilities and the advantage of specialized knowledge along with their limited non-core absorptive capacity act as constraints to the development of the future international strategy in high-tech SMEs. The study expands the existing literature on internationalization by developing variables for evaluating absorptive capacity in firms. This helped develop an absorptive capacity model which can be used as a valuable tool for self-assessment by firms to facilitate gaining insight towards further growth and development. The research suggested that if firms were able to measure its absorptive capacity this may result in improved business activities and enhanced presence in the world market. The results of this study should encourage firms to identify, capture and articulate knowledge achieved by their ventures. Managers must develop and nurture skills that ensure effective integration of learning as their firms expand, particularly internationally. These findings and absorptive capacity model offered as a tool should encourage managers to explore when, where, and how to best use firm's resources in the business operations. This is particularly important in regards to the research context (high-tech SMEs) where scientists are managers as well.

To make the move to a four-variable Karnaugh map, we are going to double the number of columns found in the three-variable map. And what happens when we halve the three-variable map? We get a two-variable Karnaugh map!

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The area of systems biology evolved in an attempt to introduce mathematical systems theory principles in biology. Although we believe that all biological processes are essentially chemical reactions, describing those using precise mathematical rules is not easy, primarily due to the complexity and enormity of biological systems. Here we introduce a formal approach for modeling biological dynamical relationships and diseases such as cancer. The immediate motivation behind this research is the urgency to find a practicable cure of cancer, the emperor of all maladies. Unlike other deadly endemic diseases such as plague, dengue and AIDS, cancer is characteristically heterogenic and hence requires a closer look into the genesis of the disease. The actual cause of cancer lies within our physiology. The process of cell division holds the clue to unravel the mysteries surrounding this disease. In normal scenario, all control mechanisms work in tandem and cell divides only when the division is required, for instance, to heal a wound platelet derived growth factor triggers cell division. The control mechanism is tightly regulated by several biochemical interactions commonly known as signal transduction pathways. However, from mathematical point of view, these pathways are marginal in nature and unable to cope with the multi-variability of a heterogenic disease like cancer. The present research is possibly one first attempt towards unraveling the mysteries surrounding the dynamics of a proliferating cell. A novel yet simple methodology is developed to bring all the marginal knowledge of the signaling pathways together to form the simplest mathematical abstract known as the Boolean Network. The malfunctioning in the cell by genetic mutations is formally modeled as stuck-at faults in the underlying Network. Finally a mathematical methodology is discovered to optimally find out the possible best combination drug therapy which can drive the cell from an undesirable condition of proliferation to a desirable condition of quiescence or apoptosis. Although, the complete biological validation was beyond the scope of the current research, the process of in-vitro validation has been already initiated by our collaborators. Once validated, this research will lead to a bright future in the field on personalized cancer therapy.