11. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have given beginning to the research on modeling and simulation with DCharts. The completion of this formalism requires and will require the collaboration and support from many researchers friends. At the very end of this thesis work, I would like to especially and sincerely thank these people:

• Professor Hans Vangheluwe of the MSDL (Modeling, Simulation and Design Lab) of McGill University, who has earnestly supervised my research from the very beginning, and who is still ardently supporting me with his learning, research equipments and morality;
  
  

• My parents and Ms. Wanmei Huang, my girlfriend, who have been supporting me by understanding the importance of my work and not asking for more time from me;
  
  

• Mr. Spencer Borland, whose research results, including the theory of transformation from statecharts to DEVS and the statecharts plugin for AToM$^3$ (which has been enhanced by me to become a DCharts plugin for AToM$^3$), have been the basis for my research;
  
  

• Professor Jörg Kienzle in the SEL (Software Engineering Lab) of McGill University, who always jokes with me and teaches me with his unique humorous tone;
  
  

• Ms. Sadaf Mustafiz, who has built the software process model for SVM, one of the most cited applications of my research result;
  
  

• Mr. Shah Asaduzzaman and Mr. Zaki Hasnain Patel, who have built the TCP model for SVM, another one of the most cited applications of my research result; and
  
  

• any one else who has unselfishly supported my research.