A formal approach to negotiating agents development

This paper presents a formal and executable approach to capture the behaviour of parties involved in a negotiation. A party is modeled as a negotiating agent composed of a communication module, a control module, a reasoning module, and a knowledge base. The control module is expressed as a statechart, and the reasoning module as a defeasible logic program. A strategy specification therefore consists of a statechart, a set of defeasible rules, and a set of initial facts. Such a specification can be dynamically plugged into an agent shell incorporating a statechart interpreter and a defeasible logic inference engine, in order to yield an agent capable of participating in a given type of negotiations. The choice of statecharts and defeasible logic with respect to other formalisms is justified against a set of desirable criteria, and their suitability is illustrated through concrete examples of bidding and multi-lateral bargaining scenarios.     

Developing a vision-based auto-recharging system for mobile robots

This article describes a vision-based auto-recharging system that guides a mobile robot moving toward a docking station. The system contains a docking station and a mobile robot. The docking station contains a docking structure, a control device, a charger, a safety detection device, and a wireless RF interface. The mobile robot contains a power detection module (voltage and current), an auto-switch, a wireless RF interface, a controller, and a camera. The controller of the power detection module is a Holtek chip. The docking structure is designed with one active degree of freedom and two passive degrees of freedom. For image processing, the mobile robot uses a webcam to capture a real-time image. The image signal is transmitted to the controller of the mobile robot via a USB interface. We use an Otsu algorithm to calculate the distance and orientation of the docking station from the mobile robot. In the experiment, the proposed algorithm guided the mobile robot to the docking station.     

杆在固有振动中的对偶关系

本文研究线弹性均质材料杆的固有振动对偶问题,即两种杆在怎样的截面变化和齐次边界下具有相同固有频率.首先,通过纵向位移和内力的对偶描述,给出两种杆异截面对偶的截面变化条件和边界条件,并将其分类为固定-固定杆与自由-自由杆对偶,固定-自由杆与自由-固定杆对偶等.上述对偶杆具有相同固有频率,而两者的位移振型互为位置坐标的导数.其次,限定两种对偶杆的截面变化相同,给出杆的截面积函数表达式.此时,固定-固定杆与自由-自由杆构成同截面对偶,而固定-自由杆和自由-固定杆的同截面对偶彼此为镜像;等截面杆也具有上述对偶性质.最后,将上述研究推广到材料性质沿轴向变化的变截面杆固有振动对偶问题.文中所有结论均适用于圆轴在齐次边界条件下的扭转固有振动对偶问题.     

充电桩计量过程中输出与充电需求不匹配问题分析及处理

针对充电桩现场测试设备的充电需求与实际输出不一致,出现电压、电流不匹配的问题,设计了一套检测方案,构建出包括电流检测模块、电压检测模块和示波器检测模块的检测电路,通过采样电压和电流信号,计算出不同负载下充电桩输出电流和电压值,并设计了包括直流电能采集电路,由双通道AD转换AD7380、可编程增益放大器、可编程增益放大器、增益电阻Rg2和电源变换器、低通滤波器电容CL、低通滤波器电阻RL组成的检测电路,在检测电路中,为了提高检测效率,还设置了校正电路。通过试验,本研究方法分析直观,误差低。     

Automatic Generation of Virtual Woodblocks and Multicolor Woodblock Printing

In this paper, we study a method to synthesize a multicolor virtual woodblock print by using several virtual woodblocks. It consists of two sections: carving and printing, to synthesize a virtual print. In the carving section, virtual woodblocks are generated by a user with supporting of an automatically carving method based on feature extraction of a gray value image. And woodblocks are also generated automatically by using a full-color image as a draft. In the printing section, a "paper sheet", a "printing brush" and "ink" are prepared in addition to the "woodblock" in the virtual space and the user synthesizes a woodblock print interactively. As the printing factors, a color of ink, a moisture value and a grain change the finish of the print. Using several virtual woodblocks and printing to a paper sheet in succession, a printing image of each woodblock is combined based on the printing factors and a multicolor virtual prints is synthesized.     

The generalized covering traveling salesman problem

In this paper we develop a problem with potential applications in humanitarian relief transportation and telecommunication networks. Given a set of vertices including the depot, facility and customer vertices, the goal is to construct a minimum length cycle over a subset of facilities while covering a given number of customers. Essentially, a customer is covered when it is located within a pre-specified distance of a visited facility on the tour. We propose two node-based and flow-based mathematical models and two metaheuristic algorithms including memetic algorithm and a variable neighborhood search for the problem. Computational tests on a set of randomly generated instances and on set of benchmark data indicate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Biomechanical analyses of paramedics simulating frequently performed strenuous work tasks

Firefighters performing emergency rescue functions are at an elevated risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The objective of the current study was to analyze the biomechanical stresses placed on the body based on simulations of the following strenuous and frequently performed emergency rescue tasks: (1) transferring a patient from a bed to a stretcher using bedsheets, (2) transferring a patient from the ambulance stretcher to a hospital gurney, (3) carrying a victim down a set of stairs and through a landing using a stairchair, (4) carrying a victim down a set of stairs and through a landing using a backboard, and (5) carrying a victim down a straight set of stairs using a stretcher. Postural data were analyzed using the University of Michigan's Three-Dimensional Static Strength Prediction Program and the relative risk of low back disorder (LBD) was quantified using the trunk motion model published by Marras et al. (1993, spine 18, 617-628). Peak compression values and the probabilities from the Marras et al. (1993) model indicated that the most hazardous tasks performed as part of this simulation included pulling a victim from a bed to a stretcher, the initial descent of a set of stairs when using the stretcher, and lifting a victim on a backboard from the floor. Overall, the two models were well correlated in their assessment of the task components modelled (r = 0.78). These data indicate where engineering changes to equipment regularly used by emergency rescue personnel would have the greatest impact in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injury.     

Distributed workflow based approach for eliminating redundancy in virtual enterprising

The existence of redundancy is a serious problem in virtual enterprise in which a number of collaborating enterprises join together to manufacture and sell a class of product for a time-limited period. This paper proposes a new approach for detection and elimination of redundancy in virtual enterprises; the proposed approach is based on workflow and uses a Petri net for modeling and simulation of workflows. This paper also presents a working example as a proof of concept.     

New instant confirmation mechanism based on interactive incontestable signature in consortium blockchain

The blockchain is a radical innovation that has a considerable effect on payments, stock exchanges, cybersecurity, and computational law. However, its limitations in terms of the uncertainty involved in transaction confirmation are significant. In this paper, we describe the design of a decentralized voting protocol for the election of a block generator in a consortium blockchain and propose a new system framework that allows fast and exact confirmation of all transactions. In addition, to replace a transaction’s owner signature, a new interactive incontestable signature between the dealer and owner is used to confirm a transaction. By means of this signature, the dealer can assure the owner that a transaction will be permanently included in the blockchain in a non-repudiation manner. Moreover, the signatures of all transactions in a block share only one witness that provides membership proof between the block and these transactions. Finally, a security and performance analysis shows that the proposed schemes are provably secure and highly efficient.     

Concept and design of Ad Hoc and Mobile classrooms

Abstract This investigation describes the concept of mobile learning and the design of Ad Hoc and Mobile classrooms. Four classes of mobile learning and implementation of Ad Hoc and eSchoolbag systems are presented. The paper discusses the development of advanced wireless technologies for building an ad hoc classroom to create a modern and new learning environment. As in a traditional classroom, information technology is developed to provide the teacher with aids, such as a blackboard, a board rubber, coloured chalk, a microphone, a voice recorder, a video recorder, and so on, to support teaching and discussions. Additionally, students are provided with an electronic schoolbag which contains electronic books, a notebook, a parents' contact book, a pencil case, writing materials, sheets, a calculator, an address book, and other items. Taking lessons in a lively, vivid and new learning environment, it is expected that students will improve their learning performance with perhaps less attendance in a physical classroom and they gain the flexibility of being able to learn at their own convenience.     

Automated synthesis of analog electrical circuits by means ofgenetic programming

Analog circuit synthesis entails the creation of both the topology and the sizing (numerical values) of all of the circuit's components. This paper presents a single uniform approach using genetic programming for the automatic synthesis of both the topology and sizing of a suite of eight different prototypical analog circuits, including a low-pass filter, a crossover filter, a source identification circuit, an amplifier, a computational circuit, a time-optimal controller circuit, a temperature-sensing circuit, and a voltage reference circuit. The problem-specific information required for each of the eight problems is minimal and consists of the number of inputs and outputs of the desired circuit, the types of available components, and a fitness measure that restates the high-level statement of the circuit's desired behavior as a measurable mathematical quantity. The eight genetically evolved circuits constitute an instance of an evolutionary computation technique producing results on a task that is usually thought of as requiring human intelligence     

A form verification system for the conceptual design of complex mechanical systems

This paper presents a summary of research into the development and implementation of a domain-independent, computer-based model for the conceptual design of complex mechanical systems [1]. The creation of such a design model includes the integration of four major concepts: (1) the use of a graphical display for visualizing the conceptual design attributes: (2) the proper representation of the complex data and diverse knowledge reguired to design the system; (3) the integration of quality design methods into the conceptual design: (4) the modeling of the conceptual design process as a mapping between functions and forms. Using the design of an automobile as a case study, a design environment was created which consisted of a distributed problem-solving paradigm and a parametric graphical display. The requirements of the design problem with respect to data representation and design processing were evaluated and a process model was specified. The resulting vehicle design system consists of a tight integration between a blackboard system and a parametric design system. The completed system allows a designer to view graphical representations of the candidate conceptual designs that the blackhoard system generates.     

Software development for high-performance, reconfigurable, embedded multimedia systems

Reconfigurable platforms can be very effective for lowering production costs because they allow the reuse of architecture resources across a variety of applications. We show how to program a reduced-instruction-set-computing (RISC) microprocessor with a reconfigurable functional unit, focusing on DSP applications and using the example of a turbodecoder. We have developed a complete design flow, including a methodology and compilation tool chain, to address the instruction set hardware-software codesign problem for a processor with a runtime reconfigurable unit. The flow starts from a system-level specification (usually a software program) of the application and partitions it into software and hardware domains to achieve the best speed, power, and area performance, while satisfying resource constraints imposed by the target platform architecture. We describe a methodology and a set of tools that allow extensive design exploration for hardware-software codesign with the goal of improving the overall utilization of reconfigurable multimedia platforms.     

混合关系中的函数依赖及其相关规则

在实际应用中有这样一类关系数据库,其中数据项在某个属性上的取值本身又是一个关系。讨论这种混合关系中的函数依赖及其相应的相关规则具有一定的理论意义和实际应用价值。给出这种混合关系的形式定义、混合关系中4种类型的函数依赖关系以及相应的4种类型的相关规则;并给出混合关系到一般关系的转换,通过这个转换说明了混合关系与普通关系的联系及其差别。给出一个实际应用中的例子,来说明混合关系中的函数依赖和相关规则的形式多样性。     

Multiple DNA and protein sequence alignment on a workstation and a supercomputer

This paper describes a multiple alignment method using a workstation and supercomputer. The method is based on the alignment of a set of aligned sequences with the new sequence, and uses a recursive procedure of such alignment. The alignment is executed in a reasonable computation time on diverse levels from a workstation to a supercomputer, from the viewpoint of alignment results and computational speed by parallel processing. The application of the algorithm is illustrated by several examples of multiple alignment of 12 amino acid and DNA sequences of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) env genes. Colour graphic programs on a workstation and parallel processing on a supercomputer are discussed.     

拟左群的一个代数结构

给出一个拟左群同构于拟群和左零带的直积的一个充分必要条件,同时给出了左群的收缩诣零扩张的一个刻画。     

Coterie join algorithm

Given a set of nodes in a distributed system, a coterie is a collection of subsets of the set of nodes such that any two subsets have a nonempty intersection and are not properly contained in one another. A subset of nodes in a coterie is called a quorum. An algorithm, called the join algorithm, which takes nonempty coteries as input, and returns a new, larger coterie called a composite coterie is introduced. It is proved that a composite coterie is nondominated if and only if the input coteries are nondominated. Using the algorithm, dominated or nondominated coteries may be easily constructed for a large number of nodes. An efficient method for determining whether a given set of nodes contains a quorum of a composite coterie is presented. As an example, tree coteries are generalized using the join algorithm, and it is proved that tree coteries are nondominated. It is shown that the join algorithm may be used to generate read and write quorums which may be used by a replica control protocol