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	     * JOURNAL OF LOGIC AND ALGEBRAIC PROGRAMMING *
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             *              Special Issue on              *
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             *  "PROCESS ALGEBRA AND SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE" *
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AIMS AND SCOPE

  A process algebra is a formal description technique for complex computer,
  communication and software systems, especially those with communicating,
  concurrently executing components.
  The key characteristics of a process algebra are:
  - Compositional modeling through a small number of constructs for building
    larger systems up from smaller ones.
  - Structural operational semantics that formally defines for each process
    term the labeled transition system that it stands for.
  - Syntax-oriented and semantics-oriented behavioral reasoning via
    equivalences and preorders that capture the notions of same behavior
    and refinement, respectively.

  Due to their compositional and abstract nature, a process algebra
  lends itself to being used at the architectural level of design of
  a complex system.
  At this stage, the designer should:
  - identify the most appropriate architectural style for the system
    (main module-subroutines, client-server, pipe-filter, layered,
    object-oriented, event-based, repository, etc.);
  - establish the behavior of each type of component as well as
    its interfaces with the rest of the system;
  - determine the connectors among the components;
  - check for the absence of mismatches when assembling the components
    together, assuming the correctness of the components when considered
    in isolation;
  - single out the components responsible for possible mismatches.

  This JLAP special issue on "Process Algebra and System Architecture"
  is devoted to advances in process algebra that improve its capability
  to deal with the architectural level of design of complex systems.
  Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  - Formalization of architectural styles with process algebra.
  - Modeling support for components and connectors within process algebra.
  - Efficient techniques for mismatch detection and diagnosis.
  - Methods to synthesize failure-free connectors.
  - Extensions to cope with dynamic and mobile architectures.
  - Security, real time, and performance related architectural requirements.
  - Architecture-driven testing.
  - Tools and case studies.


GUEST EDITORS

  Marco Bernardo       Kees Middelburg
  Univ. of Urbino      Utrecht Univ. & Eindhoven Univ. of Tech.
  Italy                The Netherlands


DEADLINES

  Submission deadline:                 June 23, 2003
  First-round notification deadline:   October 31, 2003
  Second-round notification deadline:  February 29, 2004
  Final manuscript deadline:           March 31, 2004


INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS

  Authors should submit their contributions in Postscript or PDF format
  to both guest editors via e-mail.
  Every submitted paper, which should not be published and currently
  submitted elsewhere, will be refereed in accordance with the JLAP
  reviewing process.