The Java virtual machine (JVM) is usually implemented with an interpreter or just-in-time (JIT) compiler. JIT compilers provide the best performance, but must be substantially rewritten for each architecture they are ported to. Interpreters are easier to develop and maintain, and can be ported to new architectures with almost no changes. The weakness of interpreters is that they are much slower...

When punctured, a flat soap film bursts by opening a hole driven by liquid surface tension. The hole rim does not, however, remain smooth but soon develops indentations at the tip of which ligaments form, ultimately breaking and leaving the initially connex film into a mist of disjointed drops. We report on original observations showing that these indentations result from a flaglike instability...

1839, or nearly eighty years ago, just in time to be sent to join the army in Afghanistan, of which campaign his letters give very interesting glimpses; he saw Dr. Brydon, the "Remnant of an Army" brought into Jellalabad, and went through the siege of the cantonment at Kabul in 1841. Chapter III of the little book gives an account of the work of Hare on quinine and malaria. When E. C. Hare arri...

Modelling by means of speciication languages is increasingly being recognised as an important phase in system development. It encourages one to think about problems using models organised around real-world situations. The system to be developed should then be consistent, correct and unambiguous with respect to the models produced. The Just-In-Time kanban system is an example of a real-world pro...