Emergence of auto-catalytic structure in stochastic self-reinforcing reaction networks

We consider a chemical reaction network model in which some of the reactions are stochastic and depend on past history. In this chemical reaction network, we found the emergence of autocatalytic sets (ACS) and complex dynamics in which ACS are repeatedly created and destroyed. This work was presented in part at the 7th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 16–18, 2002     

Positive invariance, monotonicity and comparison of nonlinear systems

In this paper, the interrelation between positive invariance, monotonicity and comparison of iterated nonlinear systems defined in partially ordered sets is studied. First, necessary and sufficient conditions guaranteeing the positive invariance of sets defined by relations of the form v(x)≤w with respect to nonlinear systems are established. Then, various characterizations of monotone nonlinear systems are developed and a connection between positive invariance and monotonicity is established. Finally, necessary and sufficient conditions for a, not necessarily monotone, nonlinear system to be a comparison system are established. No specific algebraic structure is necessary for developing the main results of this work. Numerical examples illustrating the applicability of all these results to the case of discrete-time dynamical systems are also given.     

On the necessity of looped-functionals arising in the analysis of pseudo-periodic,sampled-data and hybrid systems

Looped-functionals have been shown to be relevant for the analysis of a wide variety of systems. However, the conditions obtained in previous papers on the analysis of sampled-data, impulsive and switched systems have only been shown to be sufficient for the characterisation of their associated discrete-time stability conditions. We prove here that these conditions are also necessary. This result is derived for a wider class of linear systems, referred to as impulsive pseudo-periodic systems, that encompass periodic, impulsive, sampled-data and switched systems as special cases.     

Towards client-led development of information systems

Abstract. With the incorporation of Information Technology into most areas of modern life, the methods used by the Computer System Analyst (CSA) needs to be reconsidered. To suppose Systems Analysis to be concerned solely with computing is to minimize the task as an information system is greater than a computer system. As such, the information system designer needs to be able to 'appreciate' the wider implications of a clients information needs. An argument is put forward that Information System Design should be undertaken by the client with the CSA acting as facilitator. This paper attempts to provide a re-appraisal of the CSA and arising from this re-appraisal, suggest that ideas originating from organizational analysis could be usefully embodied in the design process for Information Systems.     

An exploration of expertise of knowledge workers: towards a definition of the universe of discourse for knowledge acquisition

Abstract. Knowledge systems development and use have been significantly encumbered by the difficulties of eliciting and formalizing the expertise upon which knowledge workers rely. This paper approaches the problem from an examination of the knowledge competencies of knowledge workers in order to define a universe of discourse for knowledge elicitation. It outlines two categories and several types of knowledge that could serve as the foundations for the development of a theory of expertise.     

Hybrid expert systems: A survey of current approaches and applications

This paper is a statistical analysis of hybrid expert system approaches and their applications but more specifically connectionist and neuro-fuzzy system oriented articles are considered. The current survey of hybrid expert systems is based on the classification of articles from 1988 to 2010. Present analysis includes 91 articles from related academic journals, conference proceedings and literature reviews. Our results show an increase in the number of recent publications which is an indication of gaining popularity on the part of hybrid expert systems. This increase in the articles is mainly in neuro-fuzzy and rough neural expert systems’ areas. We also observe that many new industrial applications are developed using hybrid expert systems recently.     

Necessary conditions for positive realizability of continuous-time linear systems

This paper deals with the positive realization problem. The problem is to find, from a given transfer function, a state equation in which state variables and the output take nonnegative values whenever initial states and inputs are nonnegative. Necessary conditions are investigated and a new one is given, together with some related results.