Optimization methods in inverse problems and applications to science and engineering

Optimization and Engineering -     

Relation between the cavity detuning and the output opticalintensity in free-electron lasers

The authors use a simple model of saturation in free-electron lasers operating with pulsed beams to study the intensity growth as a function of the cavity mismatch and of the coupling parameter. In spite of the simplicity of the model, the dependence of the intracavity power, as a function of the cavity detuning, is reproduced remarkably well. It is also pointed out that an enhancement of the optical power is obtained by adjusting the cavity length while the optical signal grows. The problem is analyzed qualitatively and realization schemes are proposed     

The accuracy of the computation of optical flow and of the recoveryof motion parameters

The accuracy and the dependence on parameters of a general scheme for the analysis of time-varying image sequences are discussed. The approach is able to produce vector fields from which it is possible to recover 3-D motion parameters such as time-to-collision and angular velocity. The numerical stability of the computed optical flow and the dependence of the recovery of 3-D motion parameters on spatial and temporal filtering is investigated. By considering optical flows computed on subsampled images or along single scanlines, it is also possible to recover 3-D motion parameters from reduced optical flows. An adequate estimate of time-to-collision can be obtained from sequences of images with spatial resolution reduced to 128×128 pixels or from sequences of single scanlines passing near the focus of expansion. The use of Kalman filtering increases the accuracy and the robustness of the estimation of motion parameters. The proposed approach seems to be able to provide not only a theoretical background but also practical tools that are adequate for the analysis of time-varying image sequences     

A logic of argumentation for specification and verification of abstract argumentation frameworks

In this paper, we propose a logic of argumentation for the specification and verification (LA4SV) of requirements on Dung??s abstract argumentation frameworks. We distinguish three kinds of decision problems for argumentation verification, called extension verification, framework verification, and specification verification respectively. For example, given a political requirement like ??if the argument to increase taxes is accepted, then the argument to increase services must be accepted too,?? we can either verify an extension of acceptable arguments, or all extensions of an argumentation framework, or all extensions of all argumentation frameworks satisfying a framework specification. We introduce the logic of argumentation verification to specify such requirements, and we represent the three verification problems of argumentation as model checking and theorem proving properties of the logic. Moreover, we recast the logic of argumentation verification in a modal framework, in order to express multiple extensions, and properties like transitivity and reflexivity of the attack relation. Finally, we introduce a logic of meta-argumentation where abstract argumentation is used to reason about abstract argumentation itself. We define the logic of meta-argumentation using the fibring methodology in such a way to represent attack relations not only among arguments but also among attacks. We show how to use this logic to verify the requirements of argumentation frameworks where higher-order attacks are allowed [A preliminary version of the logic of argumentation compliance was called the logic of abstract argumentation?(2005).]     

Continuity properties of solution concepts for cooperative games

Summary A survey is given of known continuity properties of solution concepts for cooperative games. Further continuity properties are derived for the bargaining set, the kernel, the equal division core, the least core, the least tax core, the-value and also for the core of non sidepayment games.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit gibt einen Überblick übebekannte Kontinuitätseigenschaften von Lösungsansätzen für kooperative Spiele. Weiter Kontinuitätseigenschaften werden abgeleitet für die Aushandlungsmenge, den Kernel, den Kern gleicher Aufteilungen, den kleinsten Kern, den kleinsten tax-Kern, den-Wert und den Kern von Spielen ohne Seitenzahlungen.

     

FMAP: Distributed cooperative multi-agent planning

This paper proposes FMAP (Forward Multi-Agent Planning), a fully-distributed multi-agent planning method that integrates planning and coordination. Although FMAP is specifically aimed at solving problems that require cooperation among agents, the flexibility of the domain-independent planning model allows FMAP to tackle multi-agent planning tasks of any type. In FMAP, agents jointly explore the plan space by building up refinement plans through a complete and flexible forward-chaining partial-order planner. The search is guided by h _{D T G} , a novel heuristic function that is based on the concepts of Domain Transition Graph and frontier state and is optimized to evaluate plans in distributed environments. Agents in FMAP apply an advanced privacy model that allows them to adequately keep private information while communicating only the data of the refinement plans that is relevant to each of the participating agents. Experimental results show that FMAP is a general-purpose approach that efficiently solves tightly-coupled domains that have specialized agents and cooperative goals as well as loosely-coupled problems. Specifically, the empirical evaluation shows that FMAP outperforms current MAP systems at solving complex planning tasks that are adapted from the International Planning Competition benchmarks.     

In vitro comparison of hepatic metabolism of 9cis-11 trans and 10trans-12cis isomers of CLA in the rat

Hepatic metabolism of the two main isomers of CLA (9cis-11 trans, 10trans-12cisC_18∶2) was compared to that of oleic acid (representative of the main plasma FA) in 16 rats by using the in vitro method of incubated liver slices. Liver tissue samples were incubated at 37°C for 17h under an atmosphere of 95% O₂/5%CO₂ in a medium supplemented with 0.75 mM of FA mixture (representative of circulating nonesterified FA) and with 55 μM [1-¹⁴C]9cis-11 trans C_18∶2, [1-¹⁴C]10trans-12cis C_18∶2, or [1-¹⁴C]oleate. The uptake of CLA by hepatocytes was similar for both isomers (9%) and was three times higher (P<0.01) than for oleate (2.6%). The rate of CLA isomer oxidation was two times higher (49 and 40% of incorporated amounts of 9cis-11 trans and 10trans-12 cis, respectively) than that of oleate (P<0.01). Total oxidation of oleate and CLA isomers into [¹⁴CO₂] was low (2 to 7% of total oxidized FA) compared to the partial oxidation (93 to 98%) leading to the production of [¹⁴C] acid-soluble products. CLA isoemrs escaping from catabolism were both highly desaturated (26.7 and 26.8%) into conjugated 18∶3. Oleate and CLA isomers were mainly esterified into neutral lipids (30%). They were slowly secreted as parts of VLDL particles (<0.4% of FA incorporated into cells), the extent of secretion of oleate and of 10trans-12 cis being 2.2-fold higher than that of 9cis-11 trans (P<0.02). In conclusion, this study clearly showed that both CLA isomers were highly catabolized by hepatocytes, reducing their availability for peripheral tissues. Moreover, more than 25% of CLA escaping from catabolism was converted into conjugated 18∶3, the biological properties of which remain to be elucidated.