Evaluating the performance of a EuroDivisia index using artificial intelligence techniques

This paper compares two methods to predict inflation rates in Europe. One method uses a standard back propagation neural network and the other uses an evolutionary approach, where the network weights and the network architecture are evolved. Results indicate that back propagation produces superior results. However, the evolving network still produces reasonable results with the advantage that the experimental set-up is minimal. Also of interest is the fact that the Divisia measure of money is superior as a predictive tool over simple sum.     

Generating educational mobile applications using UIDPs identified by artificial intelligence techniques

Commercial mobile devices vary in brand, size, and functionalities, but they all allow people to interact with educational applications. In software engineering, application development techniques, approaches, methodologies, and processes (e.g., BBD, FDD, RAD, DDD) are often time consuming, costly, or aim at expert developers – which implies that users outside the software development field (e.g., teachers) need great practice to become experienced application developers. This work proposes an artificial-intelligence-based process for generating educational mobile apps from freehand-generated images. The images’ design is based on User Interface Design Pattern (UIDP) representations. As a proof of concept, we introduce EduMatic, an application development tool. To test our process, we assessed Wiki-Comp, an application built with EduMatic, along with three other external educational applications: Khan Academy, Wiki encyclopedia, and Kiwix. According to the evaluation results, Wiki-Comp outstands in functionality, usability, and performance aspects.     

Segmentation of a seismic section using image processing and artificial intelligence techniques

Methods for segmenting stacked seismic data into zones of common signal character based on texture analysis are described. Their performance is demonstrated on a line of seismic data from the Gulf of Mexico that had been manually segmented. Two segmentation methods are described. The first is a template matching scheme that matches previously selected data templates with a block of pixels. The second uses statistics determined by examining the run-length of seismic reflection events. The run-length method is extended, through a decision process called the RESOLVER, to incorporate heuristic rules to influence the segmentation. A comparison is made between the automatic segmentations of the section and a manual interpretation.     

A priori evaluation of simulation models preparation processes using artificial intelligence techniques

Controlling the well-known triptych costs, quality and time during the different phases of the Product Development Process (PDP) is an everlasting challenge for the industry. Among the numerous issues that are to be addressed, the development of new methods and tools to adapt to the various needs the models used all along the PDP is certainly one of the most challenging and promising improvement area. This is particularly true for the adaptation of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models to Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) applications, and notably during the CAD models simplification steps. Today, even if methods and tools exist, such a preparation phase still requires a deep knowledge and a huge amount of time when considering Digital Mock-Up (DMU) composed of several hundreds of thousands of parts. Thus, being able to estimate a priori the impact of DMU adaptation scenarios on the simulation results would help identifying the best scenario right from the beginning. This paper addresses such a difficult problem and uses artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to learn and accurately predict behaviours from carefully selected examples. The main idea is to identify rules from these examples used as inputs of learning algorithms. Once those rules obtained, they can be used on a new case to a priori estimate the impact of a preparation process without having to perform it. To reach this objective, a method to build a representative database of examples has been developed, the right input (explanatory) and output (preparation process quality criteria) variables have been identified, then the learning model and its associated control parameters have been tuned. One challenge was to identify explanatory variables from geometrical key characteristics and data characterizing the preparation processes. A second challenge was to build a effective learning model despite a limited number of examples. The rules linking the output variables to the input ones are obtained using AI techniques such as well-known neural networks and decision trees. The proposed approach is illustrated and validated on industrial examples in the context of computational fluid dynamics simulations.     

Automatic design synthesis with artificial intelligence techniques

Design synthesis represents a highly complex task in the field of industrial design. The main difficulty in automating it is the definition of the design and performance spaces, in a way that a computer can generate optimum solutions. Following a different line from the machine learning, and knowledge-based methods that have been proposed, our approach considers design synthesis as an optimization problem. From this outlook, neural networks and genetic algorithms can be used to implement the fitness function and the search method needed to achieve optimum design. The proposed method has been tested in designing a telephone handset. Although the objective of this application is based on esthetic and ergonomic cues (subjective information), the algorithm successfully converges to good solutions.     

Prediction of urban stormwater quality using artificial neural networks

There are a vast number of complex, interrelated processes influencing urban stormwater quality. However, the lack of measured fundamental variables prevents the construction of process-based models. Furthermore, hybrid models such as the buildup-washoff models are generally crude simplifications of reality. This has created the need for statistical models, capable of making use of the readily accessible data. In this paper, artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to predict stormwater quality at urbanized catchments located throughout the United States. Five constituents were analysed: chemical oxygen demand (COD), lead (Pb), suspended solids (SS), total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) and total phosphorus (TP). Multiple linear regression equations were initially constructed upon logarithmically transformed data. Input variables were primarily selected using a stepwise regression approach, combined with process knowledge. Variables found significant in the regression models were then used to construct ANN models. Other important network parameters such as learning rate, momentum and the number of hidden nodes were optimized using a trial and error approach. The final ANN models were then compared with the multiple linear regression models. In summary, ANN models were generally less accurate than the regression models and more time consuming to construct. This infers that ANN models are not more applicable than regression models when predicting urban stormwater quality.     

加权交叉验证神经网络在水质预测中的应用

在之前的研究中使用人工神经网络进行水质指标预测已经取得一定效果,在此基础上将交叉验证应用于人工神经网络的训练,获得更加准确的预测结果。以澧水某监测站的水质实测数据作为样本,选取总磷、总氮、溶解氧等6个指标,建立水质预测模型。在运用Levenberg-Marquardt优化算法对学习样本进行优化的基础上,采用加权的k-fold交叉验证方法来构建神经网络集合,构建集合时采取三种不同的混合方式：平均值、中间值和加权累积。针对不同的指标,进行了一系列的实验,总的来说,新的预测方法与简单0倍验证相比有更好的预测结果,在所有指标中氨氮和溶解氧含量预测准确率比其他指标高。     

Automatic microstructural characterization and classification using artificial intelligence techniques on ultrasound signals

Secondary phases such as Laves and carbides are formed during the final solidification stages of nickel based superalloy coatings deposited during the gas tungsten arc welding cold wire process. However, when aged at high temperatures, other phases can precipitate in the microstructure, like the γ″ and δ phases. This work presents a new application and evaluation of artificial intelligent techniques to classify (the background echo and backscattered) ultrasound signals in order to characterize the microstructure of a Ni-based alloy thermally aged at 650 and 950 °C for 10, 100 and 200 h. The background echo and backscattered ultrasound signals were acquired using transducers with frequencies of 4 and 5 MHz. Thus with the use of features extraction techniques, i.e., detrended fluctuation analysis and the Hurst method, the accuracy and speed in the classification of the secondary phases from ultrasound signals could be studied. The classifiers under study were the recent optimum-path forest (OPF) and the more traditional support vector machines and Bayesian. The experimental results revealed that the OPF classifier was the fastest and most reliable. In addition, the OPF classifier revealed to be a valid and adequate tool for microstructure characterization through ultrasound signals classification due to its speed, sensitivity, accuracy and reliability.     

人工智能技术在网络空间安全防御中的应用

如何及时处理海量网络态势信息并有效应对动态演化的网络攻击是网络空间安全防御面临的主要挑战,人工智能技术由于具有传统方法所不具备的智能特性,近年来在网络空间安全防御中得到了广泛的关注,并取得了大量的研究成果。综述了近年来神经网络、多Agent系统以及专家系统等人工智能技术在网络空间安全防御中的主要应用和方法,分析比较了它们各自的应用特点,给出了未来研究与发展的趋势。     

Intensity-based statistical features for classification of lungs CT scan nodules using artificial intelligence techniques

A computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system for effective and accurate pulmonary nodule detection is required to detect the nodules at early stage. This paper proposed a novel technique to detect and classify pulmonary nodules based on statistical features for intensity values using support vector machine (SVM). The significance of the proposed technique is, it uses the nodules features in 2D & 3D and also SVM for the classification that is good to classify the nodules extracted from the image. The lung volume is extracted from Lung CT using thresholding, background removal, hole-filling and contour correction of lung lobe. The candidate nodules are extracted and pruned using the rules based on ground truth of nodules. The statistical features for intensity values are extracted from candidate nodules. The nodule data are up-samples to reduce the biasness. The classifier SVM is trained using data samples. The efficiency of proposed CAD system is tested and evaluated using Lung Image Consortium Database (LIDC) that is standard data-set used in CAD Systems for Lungs Nodule classification. The results obtained from proposed CAD system are good as compare to previous CAD systems. The sensitivity of 96.31% is achieved in the proposed CAD system.     

Predicting seminal quality with artificial intelligence methods

Fertility rates have dramatically decreased in the last two decades, especially in men. It has been described that environmental factors, as well as life habits, may affect semen quality. Artificial intelligence techniques are now an emerging methodology as decision support systems in medicine.In this paper we compare three artificial intelligence techniques, decision trees, Multilayer Perceptron and Support Vector Machines, in order to evaluate their performance in the prediction of the seminal quality from the data of the environmental factors and lifestyle.To do that we collect data by a normalized questionnaire from young healthy volunteers and then, we use the results of a semen analysis to asses the accuracy in the prediction of the three classification methods mentioned above.The results show that Multilayer Perceptron and Support Vector Machines show the highest accuracy, with prediction accuracy values of 86% for some of the seminal parameters. In contrast decision trees provide a visual and illustrative approach that can compensate the slightly lower accuracy obtained.In conclusion artificial intelligence methods are a useful tool in order to predict the seminal profile of an individual from the environmental factors and life habits. From the studied methods, Multilayer Perceptron and Support Vector Machines are the most accurate in the prediction. Therefore these tools, together with the visual help that decision trees offer, are the suggested methods to be included in the evaluation of the infertile patient.     

Forming processes control by means of artificial intelligence techniques

Forming processes are manufacturing processes that use force and pressure in order to modify the shape of a material part until obtaining the final product. The wide range of non-linear factors that drive this sort of processes make them very complex and extremely difficult to be controlled. Traditional control techniques, like PID controllers, have not offered a reliable solution when global control has been pursued and the figure of the operator still remains present in most of the forming facilities. On the other hand, although operators have demonstrated to be a very successful strategy when controlling this type of processes, the actual market evolution towards the fabrication of more complex parts, made of lower formability materials at higher production rates, is decreasing their capacity of reaction when solving the daily problems. Thus, the development of new global control systems based not on traditional control techniques and mathematical models but on the control strategy that has been used successfully for many years, the control through the experience and knowledge is now even more necessary. In the present work, an intelligent control system based on one of the main techniques within the artificial intelligence, expert systems, has been developed. The main purpose of this intelligent control system is to emulate the decisions that expert operators take but in a quicker and more reliable way. The developed intelligent control system has been installed in a blanking facility and very good results have been achieved.     

Using artificial intelligence techniques for COVID-19 genome analysis

Applied Intelligence - The genome of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease was first sequenced in January 2020, approximately a month after its emergence in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province,...     

A novel approach to predict shear strength of tilted angle connectors using artificial intelligence techniques

Shear connectors play a prominent role in the design of steel-concrete composite systems. The behavior of shear connectors is generally determined through conducting push-out tests. However, these tests are costly and require plenty of time. As an alternative approach, soft computing (SC) can be used to eliminate the need for conducting push-out tests. This study aims to investigate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, as sub-branches of SC methods, in the behavior prediction of an innovative type of C-shaped shear connectors, called Tilted Angle Connectors. For this purpose, several push-out tests are conducted on these connectors and the required data for the AI models are collected. Then, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is developed to identify the most influencing parameters on the shear strength of the tilted angle connectors. Totally, six different models are created based on the ANFIS results. Finally, AI techniques such as an artificial neural network (ANN), an extreme learning machine (ELM), and another ANFIS are employed to predict the shear strength of the connectors in each of the six models. The results of the paper show that slip is the most influential factor in the shear strength of tilted connectors and after that, the inclination angle is the most effective one. Moreover, it is deducted that considering only four parameters in the predictive models is enough to have a very accurate prediction. It is also demonstrated that ELM needs less time and it can reach slightly better performance indices than those of ANN and ANFIS.

     

Tool condition monitoring using artificial intelligence methods

This paper describes an application of three artificial intelligence (AI) methods to estimate tool wear in lathe turning. The first two are “conventional” AI methods—the feed forward back propagation neural network and the fuzzy decision support system. The third is a new artificial neural network based-fuzzy inference system with moving consequents in if–then rules. Tool wear estimation is based on the measurement of cutting force components. This paper discusses a comparison of usability of these methods in practice.     

Prospects for process selection using artificial intelligence

On problem facing modern industry is the lack of a skilled labor force to produce machined parts as has been done in the past. In the near future, this problem may become acute for a number of manufacturing tasks. One such task is process planning. Since process planning requires intelligent reasoning and considerable experiential knowledge, almost all existing computer aided process planning systems require a significant amount of supervision by an experienced human being.There is some prospect that “expert computer system” techniques from the field of Artificial Intelligence may be successfully used to automate (at least partially) several of the reasoning activities involved with process planning. This paper discusses some current prospects for automating a process planning task known as process selection. These ideas are currently being considered for use int he Automated Manufacturing Research Facility project at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards, and steps are being taken to implement them in an expert computer system.     

A non-invasive methodology for the grade identification of astrocytoma using image processing and artificial intelligence techniques

Brain tumor grade identification is an invasive technique and clinicians rely on biopsy and spinal tap method. The proposed method takes an effort to develop a non-invasive method for the tumor grade (Low/High) identification using magnetic resonant images. The process involves preprocessing, image segmentation, tumor isolation, feature extraction, feature selection and classification. An analysis on the performance of the segmentation techniques, feature extraction methods, automatic feature selection (SFLA) and constructed classifiers (support vector machines, learning vector quantization and Naives Bayes) is done on the basis of accuracy, efficiency and elapsed time. This analysis motivates towards the accurate determination of tumor grade from MR images instead of depending on magnetic resonant spectroscopy and biopsy. Fuzzy c-means segmentation outperformed other segmentation techniques, shape and size based textural feature promoted the demarcation of tumor grades, Naive Bayes classifier succeeded in terms of efficiency, error and elapse time when compared with SVM and LVQ. The study was carried out with 200 images consisting training set (164 images) and testing set (36 images). The results revealed that the system is robust and accurate (91%), consumed less time in grade identification, an alternative for biopsy and MRS in the brain tumor grade identification diagnosis procedure.