Abstract: A job scheduler makes decisions concerning the order and frequency of access to a resource according to a substantially optimum delay cost function. The delay cost function is a single value function of one or more inputs, where at least one of the inputs is a delay time which increases as a job waits for service. The job scheduler is preferably used by a multi-user computer operating system to schedule jobs of different classes. The delay cost functions are preferably implemented by neural networks. The user specifies desired performance objectives for each job class. The computer system runs for a specified period of time, collecting data on system performance. The differences between the actual and desired performance objectives are computed, and used to adaptively train the neural network. The process repeats until the delay cost functions stabilize near optimum value. However, if the system configuration, workload, or desired performance objectives change, the neural network will again start to adapt.

Abstract: A steel railway wheel with reduced axial flange deflection and reduced, thermally-induced, residual-tensile stress in the wheel rim, has a clearly defined relationship among the plate angle, the maximum depth of curvature of the wheel plate segment, the location of the maximum depth of curvature, the wheel hub and the rim, which relationship is provided for plate segments both concave and convex with respect to the wheel outboard surface.

Abstract: According to the invention, the rectilinear portion of the median longitudinal axis of the configuration of the disk of the railway wheel at the side of the wheel rim conjugates with a first portion described by the expressiony=-0.0074x.sup.3 +0.412x.sup.2 -7.25x+38.7,conjugating with a second portion described by the expressiony=-0.0009x.sup.3 +0.0658x.sup.2 -1.314x+5.5592,extending into a third portion described by the expressiony=-0.0129x.sup.2 +0.0335x-0.98,conjugating with a rectilinear portion at the side of the hub, whereas the abscissas of the points rest within the following ranges: ##EQU1## where x and y are the running coordinates,D is the diameter of the rolling surface, andd is the outside diameter of the hub.