We investigate the dynamics of monitored memory resource utilizations in an operating system under stress using quantitative methods of fractal analysis. In the experiments, we recorded the time series representing various memory related parameters of the operating system. We observed that parameters demonstrate clear multifractal behavior. The degree of fractality of these time series tends to increase as the system workload increases. We conjecture that the Hölder exponent that measures the local rate of fractality may be used as a quantitative measure of software aging. We propose a simple proactive computer crash avoidance strategy based on the online fractal analysis of system memory resource observations.

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The need for reliable identification and authentication is driving the increased use of biometric devices and systems. Verification and validation techniques applicable to these systems are rather immature and ad hoc, yet the consequences of the wide deployment of biometric systems could be significant. In this paper we discuss an approach towards validation and reliability estimation of a fingerprint registration software. Our validation approach includes the following three steps: (a) the validation of the source code with respect to the system requirements specification; (b) the validation of the optimization algorithm, which is in the core of the registration system; and (c) the automation of testing. Since the optimization algorithm is heuristic in nature, mathematical analysis and test results are used to estimate the reliability and perform failure analysis of the image registration module.

I would like to express my deep respect and profound thanks to Dr. Bojan Cukic. Any words cannot truly express my gratitude for the opportunities, encouragement and knowledge that you have bestowed upon me and the skills that I have gathered through my interaction with him. I have learnt a lot from you both professionally and personally. I was very excited to work with you and I shall cherish the fun times with you and the team outside of work. Dr. Tim Menzies it was great to work with you on the Data Mining part of this work. Dr. Mark Shereshevsky, thank you for your guidance on the Fractal Analysis part of this work. John Atkins, you are one of the best teachers I ever had and I shall always be grateful to you for the high standards and expectations you set very early on that has set me up do well ever since. I also would like to thank Dr.