Jill Cirasella

The Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem: Algorithms, Instance Generators, and Tests

The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary report on the first broad-based experimental comparison of modern heuristics for the asymmetric traveling salesmen problem (ATSP). There are currently three general classes of such heuristics: classical tour construction heuristics such as Nearest Neighbor and the Greedy algorithm, local search algorithms based on re-arranging segments of the tour, as exemplified by the Kanellakis-Papadimitriou algorithm [KP80], and algorithms based on patching together the cycles in a minimum cycle cover, the best of which are variants on an algorithm proposed by Zhang [Zha93]. We test implementations of the main contenders from each class on a variety of instance types, introducing a variety of new random instance generators modeled on real-world applications of the ATSP. Among the many tentative conclusions we reach is that no single algorithm is dominant over all instance classes, although for each class the best tours are found either by Zhangs algorithm or an iterated variant on Kanellakis-Papadimitriou.

Google Sets®, Google Suggest®, and Google Search History®: Three More Tools for the Reference Librarian's Bag of Tricks

ABSTRACT This article examines the features, quirks, and uses of Google Sets, Google Suggest, and Google Search History and argues that these three lesser-known Google tools warrant inclusion in the resourceful reference librarians bag of tricks.

Just Roll with It? Rolling Volumes vs. Discrete Issues in Open Access Library and Information Science Journals

INTRODUCTION Articles in open access (OA) journals can be published on a rolling basis, as they become ready, or in complete, discrete issues. This study examines the prevalence of and reasons for rolling volumes vs. discrete issues among scholarly OA library and information science (LIS) journals based in the United States. METHODS A survey was distributed to journal editors, asking them about their publication model and their reasons for and satisfaction with that model. RESULTS Of the 21 responding journals, 12 publish in discrete issues, eight publish in rolling volumes, and one publishes in rolling volumes with an occasional special issue. Almost all editors, regardless of model, cited ease of workflow as a justification for their chosen publication model, suggesting that there is no single best workflow for all journals. However, while all rolling-volume editors reported being satisfied with their model, satisfaction was less universal among discrete-issue editors. DISCUSSION The unexpectedly high number of rolling-volume journals suggests that LIS journal editors are making forward-looking choices about publication models even though the topic has not been much addressed in the library literature. Further research is warranted; possibilities include expanding the study’s geographic scope, broadening the study to other disciplines, and investigating publication model trends across the entire scholarly OA universe. CONCLUSION Both because satisfaction is high among editors of rolling-volume journals and because readers and authors appreciate quick publication times, the rolling-volume model will likely become even more prevalent in coming years.

Historical Bibliography of Quantum Computing

This bibliographic essay reviews seminal papers in quantum computing. Although quantum computing is a young science, its researchers have already published thousands of noteworthy articles, far too many to list here. Therefore, this appendix is not a comprehensive chronicle of the emergence and evolution of the field but rather a guided tour of some of the papers that spurred, formalized, and furthered its study. Quantum computing draws on advanced ideas from computer science, physics, and mathematics, and most major papers were written by researchers conversant in all three fields. Nevertheless, all the articles described in this appendix can be appreciated by computer scientists.

Keeping Abreast of Quantum News: Quantum Computing on the Web and in the Literature

This book covers many major developments in quantum computing, but the field is still young, and there will no doubt be many more developments in the future. These future developments will include research discoveries, of course, but they will also include trends in industry, surges in media coverage, and tides of public interest. This appendix describes tools that can help you track quantum developments of all kinds.

Speaking As One: Supporting Open Access with Departmental Resolutions

Library faculty at the City University of New York (CUNY) have engaged in promoting and advocating for open access publishing at each of our campuses as well as across the University. Inspired by the passing of a faculty senate resolution in support of the creation of an open access institutional repository and associated policies, many CUNY librarians felt the need to raise their level of commitment. In this article, the authors—four library faculty members and one faculty member from outside the library—share their experiences creating and approving open access policies in the library departments of four CUNY schools and promoting open access beyond the libraries. They offer practical advice and guidance for other librarians and faculty seeking to encourage the embrace of open access publishing in departments or other sub-institutional contexts.