The individual ‘working-to-rules’: reducing determinism in Taylor-made expert systems

Holden (1989) suggested that Taylorist scientific management principles, based upon machine-like models of man, may influence the development and application of expert systems. While Holden's work is a major contribution to the debate on the effects of technology on employment, it is argued that a similar deterministic and mechanistic image of the users of expert systems is implicit in his paper. In addition, this commentary also addresses some of the related issues concerning autonomous expert systems.     

A PDMS microfluidic impedance immunosensor for E. coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus detection via antibody-immobilized nanoporous membrane

In this article, a PDMS microfluidic immunosensor integrated with specific antibody immobilized alumina nanoporous membrane was developed for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus with electrochemical impedance spectrum. Firstly, antibodies to the targeted bacteria were covalently immobilized on the nanoporous alumina membranes via self assembled (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPMS) silane. Then, the impedance spectrum was recorded for bacteria detection ranging from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The maximum impedance amplitude change for these two food pathogens was around 100 Hz. This microfluidic immunosensor based on nanoporous membrane impedance spectrum could achieve rapid bacteria detection within 2 h with a high sensitivity of 10² CFU/ml. Cross-bacteria experiments for E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus were also explored to testify the specificity. The results showed that impedance amplitude at 100 Hz had a significant reduction in binding of bacteria when the membrane was exposed to non-specific bacteria.     

A new approach to robust and non-fragile H∞ control for uncertain fuzzy systems

This paper investigates the robust H_∞ control and non-fragile control problems for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems with linear fractional parametric uncertainties. The robust H_∞ control problem is to design a state feedback controller such that the robust stability and a prescribed H_∞ performance of the resulting closed-loop system is ensured. And the non-fragile H_∞ control problem is to design a state feedback controller with parameter uncertainties. Based on the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, new sufficient conditions for the solvability of the two problems are obtained. It is shown that the desired state feedback fuzzy controller can be constructed by solving a set of LMIs. Numerical examples are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.     

‘Long return’: A technique for improving the efficiency of inter-module communication

This paper describes a concept called ‘long return’ for use in inter-module communication systems. First an implementation which implies a simplification of—rather than an extension of—traditional inter-module communication systems is outlined. This implementation allows long returns to be used as an optimization technique without violating the commonly accepted principles of system structuring. Thereafter an experiment that provides an estimate of the improvements in efficiency of a particular operating system is described. In the SIMOS operating systems (based on the Cambridge CAP operating system) about 20 per cent of all inter-process communication operations can be avoided by using long returns, and as a consequence the amount of useful work done in the system is typically increased by about 2.0 per cent.     

A new algebraic model for implementing expert systems represented under the ‘Concept-Attribute-Value’ paradigm

This paper is concerned with expounding a new representation paradigm for modeling expert systems based on computing Groebner Bases. Previous research on Groebner Bases expert systems has so far been connected to modeling expert systems based on propositional logics. Our approach instead is based on the well-known Artificial Intelligence ‘Concept-Attribute-Value’ paradigm for representing knowledge. More precisely, our research is based on translating an already existent expert system described in terms of the ‘Concept-Attribute-Value’ paradigm to a new algebraic model which represents knowledge by means of polynomials. In this way, issues about consistence and inference within this expert system will be, through this new model, transformed into algebraic problems involving calculating Groebner Bases. By using this new model of ours, some interesting advantages ensue: on the one hand, knowledge representation may be performed in a more straightforward and intuitive way; on the other, calculating the Groebner Bases associated to our algebraic model is usually faster adopting this new ‘Concept-Attribute-Value’-based paradigm than it was in previous propositional logic-based expert systems.     

LyraNET: A zero-copy TCP/IP protocol stack for embedded systems

Embedded systems are usually resource limited in terms of processing power, memory, and power consumption, thus embedded TCP/IP should be designed to make the best use of limited resources. Applying zero-copy mechanism can reduce memory usage and CPU processing time for data transmission. Power consumption can be reduced as well. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of zero-copy mechanism in the target embedded TCP/IP component, LyraNET, which is derived from Linux TCP/IP codes and remodeled as a reusable software component that is independent from operating systems and hardware. Performance evaluation shows that TCP/IP protocol processing overhead can be significantly decreased by 23–63%. Besides, object code size of this network component is only 77.64% of the size of the original Linux TCP/IP stack. The experience of this study can serve as the reference for embedding Linux TCP/IP stack into a target system that requires network connectivity and improving the transmission efficiency of Linux TCP/IP by zero-copy implementation. This paper is an extended version of the paper “LyraNET: A Zero-Copy TCP/IP Protocol Stack for Embedded Operating Systems” that appeared in the 11th IEEE International Conference on Embedded and Real-Time Computing Systems and Applications. Mei-Ling Chiang received the B.S. degree in Management Information Science from National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1989. She received the M.S. degree in 1993 and her Ph.D degree in 1999 in Computer and Information Science from National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Now she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Management at National Chi-Nan University, Puli, Taiwan. Her current research interests include operating systems, embedded systems, and clustered systems. Yun-Chen Lee received the B.S degree in 2002 and the M.S. degree in 2005 in Information Management from National Chi-Nan University, Puli, Taiwan. He is currently a software engineer in InterVideo Digital Tech., responsible for software development of multimedia-related products.     

A decision support system for the automatic management of keep-clear signs based on support vector machines and geographic information systems

This paper presents a decision support system for automatic keep-clear signs management. The system consists of several modules. First of all, an acquisition module obtains images using a vehicle equipped with two recording cameras. A recognition module, which is based on Support Vector Machines (SVMs), analyzes each image and decides if there is a keep-clear sign in it. The images with keep-clear signs are included into a Geographical Information System (GIS) database. Finally in the management module, the data in the GIS are compared with the council database in order to decide actions such as repairing or reposition of signs, detection of possible frauds etc. We present the first tests of the system in a Spanish city (Meco, Madrid), where the systems is being tested for its application in the near future.     

A mixed H2/H∞ adaptive tracking control for constrained non-holonomic systems

In this study, a PID type controller incorporating an adaptive control scheme for the mixed H₂/H_∞ tracking performance is developed for constrained non-holonomic mechanical systems under unknown or uncertain plant parameters and external disturbances. By virtue of the skew-symmetric property of the non-holonomic mechanical systems and an adequate choice of a state variable transformation, sufficient conditions are developed for the adaptive mixed H₂/H_∞ tracking control problems in terms of a pair of coupled algebraic equations instead of a pair of coupled non-linear differential equations. The coupled algebraic equations can be solved analytically.     

Techniques for the verification and validation of knowledge-based systems: A survey based on the symbol/knowledge level distinction

Verification and validation are terms that have been used for several years in software engineering, and there are now many verification and validation techniques, plus considerable experience and expertise in using them. However, applying these techniques to knowledge-based system is not straightforward. The essential differences between conventional systems and knowledge-based systems suggest that these techniques must be expanded and adapted, but new techniques are also needed. This article has two major goals: first, it makes some comparisons between verification and validation as found in traditional software engineering and knowledge-based systems, pointing out what is special about the latter as compared with the former; second, it provides a framework for a discussion of the various European work on verification and validation of knowledge-based systems. The perspective put forward in this article allows for a vast amound of work to be surveyed and analysed beyond the implementation level, by differentiating the symbol level and the knowledge level within a knowledge-based system.     

A new H∞ design methodology for the control of flexible structures: Application to a sight system

We present an Hscr;^∞ controller design methodology for flexible systems. We illustrate our approach using an example drawn from an industrial application. The proposed method avoids undesirable (lightly damped) pole-zero cancellations and yields a low-order controller, using a new formulation of the standard problem.     

Retraction of ‘A novel viewpoint on information and interface design for auction web sites. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 22, 287–295. doi: 10.1002/hfm.20274’

The article listed above, published online on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editors‐in‐Chief, Gavriel Salvendy and Waldemar Karwowski, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed due to evidence indicating that the peer review of this paper was compromised. It is believed that the paper was accepted based on recommendations from reviewers with conflicts of interest. In addition, ISI provided the publisher with evidence of inappropriate manipulation of citations.     

Retraction of ‘A study of a B2C supporting interface design system for the elderly. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 22, 528–540. doi: 10:1002/hfm.20297’

The article listed above, published online on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editors‐in‐Chief, Gavriel Salvendy and Waldemar Karwowski, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed due to evidence indicating that the peer review of this paper was compromised. It is believed that the paper was accepted based on recommendations from reviewers with conflicts of interest. In addition, ISI provided the publisher with evidence of inappropriate manipulation of citations.     

A survey of tools for the validation and verification of knowledge-based systems: 1985–1995

This paper presents the findings of a survey of software tools built to assist in the verification and validation of knowledge-based systems. The tools were identified from literature sources from the period 1985–1995. The tool builders were contacted and asked to complete and return a survey that identified which testing and analysis techniques were utilised and covered by their tool. From these survey results it is possible to identify trends in tool development, technique coverage and areas for future research.