KEMNAD: A KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY FOR NEGOTIATING AGENT DEVELOPMENT

Automated negotiation is widely applied in various domains. However, the development of such systems is a complex knowledge and software engineering task. So, a methodology there will be helpful. Unfortunately, none of existing methodologies can offer sufficient, detailed support for such system development. To remove this limitation, this paper develops a new methodology made up of (1) a generic framework (architectural pattern) for the main task, and (2) a library of modular and reusable design pattern (templates) of subtasks. Thus, it is much easier to build a negotiating agent by assembling these standardized components rather than reinventing the wheel each time. Moreover, because these patterns are identified from a wide variety of existing negotiating agents (especially high impact ones), they can also improve the quality of the final systems developed. In addition, our methodology reveals what types of domain knowledge need to be input into the negotiating agents. This in turn provides a basis for developing techniques to acquire the domain knowledge from human users. This is important because negotiation agents act faithfully on the behalf of their human users and thus the relevant domain knowledge must be acquired from the human users. Finally, our methodology is validated with one high impact system.     

“数字图像处理”课程教学实践与探讨

"数字图像处理"是信息类专业重要的本科专业课程之一。在为我院本科生讲授的"数字图像处理"课程实践中,我们尝试融合多种教学手段,提升课程教学效果。本文结合前期教学实践,从可视化教学手段、知识关联比较、理论结合实践、双语教改和教学大纲改进等方面介绍在该课程教学方面的一些探索和体会。     

Chrysin,Apigenin and Acacetin Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis—Inducing Ligand Receptor-1 (TRAIL-R1) on Activated RAW264.7 Macrophages

Expression level of Tumor Necrosis Factor—related apoptosis—inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors is one of the most important factors of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. We here report for the first time data concerning TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 receptor expression on RAW264.7 macrophages. Three substances belonging to flavones: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin which differ from their substituents at the 4'' position in the phenyl ring were used in assays because of the variety of biological activities (e.g., anticancer activity) of the polyphenol compounds. The expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 death receptors on non-stimulated and LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated macrophages was determined using flow cytometry. We demonstrate that RAW264.7 macrophages exhibit TRAIL-R1 surface expression and that the tested compounds: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin can inhibit TRAIL-R1 death receptor expression level on macrophages.     

MODELS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION: DIALOGUE WITH COMPUTER

A model of understanding texts of a natural language is presented, which consists of three levels. On the first level, the system uses only information in the given text. On the second level, it employs additional information from a knowledge base. On the third level, understanding is connected with some activity of the system stimulated by the available information.     

Public trust in a mobile device and service policy in South Korea: The Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act

South Korea has the highest expenditure on telecommunications among OECD countries, drawing national attention to the issue of reducing high prices. In response, the Korean government enacted the Mobile Device Distribution Improvement (MDDI) Act to eliminate information asymmetry by limiting mobile carriers’ mobile handset subsidies to consumers. This study examined factors affecting public trust in the MDDI based by analyzing responses to a questionnaire survey using the ordered probit model. The results show that the knowledge, expectations, and perceived effects of the MDDI have a meaningful effect on public trust in the policy. The results of this study confirm that it is essential for governments to promote their policies by continuously educating the public, especially in this case because the policy has a direct effect on telecommunications expenditures.     

番茄PIN基因家族的生物信息学分析及其表达模式

PIN蛋白是生长素输出蛋白,具有多个跨膜结构域,能够介导生长素在整个植物体内的流动。番茄作为一种具有重要经济价值的果蔬,对其生长发育调控的研究具有重要的意义。研究表明,PIN蛋白对植物果实的生长发育起着重要的调控作用。本研究通过生物信息学的方法对番茄PIN基因组中10个SlPINs的核酸和氨基酸序列进行分析,构建番茄Sl PINs的进化树,并分析番茄SlPINs在不同组织和果实生长发育过程中的表达量变化,为进一步研究SlPINs的生物学功能提供理论依据。     

Molecular Cloning,Structural Analysis and Tissue Expression of Protein Phosphatase 3 Catalytic Subunit Alpha Isoform (PPP3CA) Gene in Tianfu Goat Muscle

Calcineurin, a Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, plays a critical role in controlling skeletal muscle fiber type. However, little information is available concerning the expression of calcineurin in goat. Therefore, protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha isoform (PPP3CA) gene, also called calcineurin Aα, was cloned and its expression characterized in Tianfu goat muscle. Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses revealed that Tianfu goat PPP3CA was detected in cardiac muscle, biceps femoris muscle, abdominal muscle, longissimus dors muscle, and soleus muscle. High expression levels were found in biceps femoris muscle, longissimus muscle and abdominal muscle (p < 0.01), and low expression levels were seen in cardiac muscle and soleus muscle (p > 0.05). In addition, the spatial-temporal mRNA expression levels showed different variation trends in different muscles with the age of the goats. Western blotting further revealed that PPP3CA protein was expressed in the above-mentioned tissues, with the highest level in biceps femoris muscle, and the lowest level in soleus muscle. In this study, we isolated the full-length coding sequence of Tianfu goat PPP3CA gene, analyzed its structure, and investigated its expression in different muscle tissues from different age stages. These results provide a foundation for understanding the function of the PPP3CA gene in goats.     

“Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” for seamless science inquiry in a primary school

This paper reports a one-year study on the project of “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for seamless science inquiry” in a primary school in Hong Kong. BYOD in this study refers to “the technology model where students bring a personally owned mobile device with various apps and embedded features to use anywhere, anytime for the purpose of learning”. The study aims at investigating (a) what advancement of content knowledge students made in their science inquiry in a seamless learning environment supported by their own mobile device; (b) how the students advanced their content knowledge in science inquiry; and (c) what students' perception is regarding their learning experience supported by their own mobile devices. The topic of inquiry was “The Anatomy of Fish”. Data collection included pre- and post-domain tests, self-reported questionnaire, student artifacts, class observations and field notes. Content analysis and a student artifact tracing approach were adopted in the data analysis to examine and trace students' knowledge advancement. The research findings show that the students advanced their understanding of the anatomy of fish well beyond what was available in the textbook and they developed positive attitude toward seamless science inquiry supported by their own mobile devices.     

A new kinetic model for Ni(II) ion flotation based on gene expression programming

ABSTRACT

The Ni(II) ion flotation kinetics with sodium dodecylsulfate as collector was studied with the aim of developing new models to predict the flotation rate constant (k) of Ni(II) ions and water removal during the process of Ni(II) ion flotation. In this regard, the most influential parameters on Ni(II) ion flotation efficiency including the ratio of collector concentration on the Ni(II) ion concentration, impeller speed, activity coefficient, and pH were used to develop predictive models. The results show that the proposed gene expression programming models can be used to predict the flotation rate constant of Ni(II) ions and water removal.