A method of defuzzification based on the approach of areas' ratio

The new method of defuzzification of output parameters from the base of fuzzy rules for a Mamdani fuzzy controller is given in the paper. The peculiarity of the method is the usage of the universal equation for the area computation of the geometric shapes. During the realization of fuzzy inference linguistic terms, the structure changes from the triangular into a trapezoidal shape. That is why the universal equation is used. The method is limited and can be used only for the triangular and trapezoidal membership functions. Gaussian functions can also be used while modifying the proposed method. Traditional defuzzification models such as Middle of Maxima − MoM, First of Maxima − FoM, Last of Maxima − LoM, First of Suppport − FoS, Last of Support − LoS, Middle of Support − MoS, Center of Sums − CoS, Model of Height − MoH have a number of systematic errors: curse of dimensionality, partition of unity condition and absence of additivity. The above-mentioned methods can be seen as Center of Gravity − CoG, which has the same errors. These errors lead to the fact that accuracy of fuzzy systems decreases, because during the training root mean square error increases. One of the reasons that provokes the errors is that some of the activated fuzzy rules are excluded from the fuzzy inference. It is also possible to increase the accuracy of the fuzzy system through properties of continuity. The proposed method guarantees fulfilling of the property of continuity, as the intersection point of the adjustment linguistic terms equals 0.5 when a parametrized membership function is used. The causes of errors and a way to delete them are reviewed in the paper. The proposed method excludes errors which are inherent to the traditional and non- traditional models of defuzzification. Comparative analysis of the proposed method of defuzzification with traditional and non-traditional models shows its effectiveness.     

Ethical and legal issues for writing researchers in an age of media convergence

With the convergence of digital media into ever-widening social and technological networks for creation and distribution, the contexts for writing and the study of writing and writers have certainly changed. Researchers must navigate a dense matrix of ethical and legal issues in all phases of research when studying the ever-changing processes and products of digital communications. In this article, I draw from numerous sources to articulate a few of the challenges facing digital writing researchers in this age of convergence, focusing on issues of representation (researcher, participant, third-party), issues of informed consent, and issues of copyright and fair use.     

New debates on learning support

Abstract In the present debate on knowledge management and multimedia support of human learning, the word 'mediation' (of conduct) is often used as a natural correlate and rough equivalent to the word 'mediatisation' (of information). It is suggested that the distinction between the two words points to a basic difference between two types of processes which are crucial to a much needed rethinking of the conception and design of humanmachine interaction (HCI).
A redefinition of the 'appropriateness' of media support as the quality of the help to people's self-help rather than of direct control of their behaviour is proposed. Such a redefinition implies a radical shift of paradigm allowing for approaches to human learning as a cognitive activity in its own right. Another view of technological mediation is advocated, in keeping with some recent developments in HCI.     

HUYGENS' PRINCIPLE,PHYSICS AND COMPUTERS

We discuss the emergence of topology from a consideration of set extensions in General Systems Theory. Boundaries arise in a natural way, separating independent elements or regions of the system. Our aim is a unification of Etter theory, Kron's method of Tearing and Jessel's formulation of Huygens' Principle. This should make explicit the equivalence between the objective, structural, holographic and the subjective, relative definitions of information, sought in Bowden (1994b), reprinted in this Special Issue. It connects the abstract generalisations of Schrodinger's equation and Bom's rule derived in probabilistic Etter theory with the real world of electrical and other physical phenomena in General Physical Systems Theory. This paper can be considered as a continuation of Bowden (1990; 1994a) and as a response to Bowden (1994b), reprinted in this issue.

We review the ideas behind Kron's Method of Tearing and Jessel's Principle of Secondary sources (both special cases of the above theory) and their equivalence. We follow Hiley's argument in Hiley (1996) to show how Schrodinger's equation can be thought of as specifying the evolution of (a series of) tearings in continuous space. These can be shown on a commutative diagram as a series of similarity transforms. We compare this with Etter's derivation (Etter, 1998). We describe briefly a recently published derivation of Maxwell's equations from a non-commutative algebra and show how they fit onto a related commutative diagram. Finally we make some comments on applications of the general theory to computer systems. This paper is a series of vignettes of work in progress. It is designed to point the direction of work to come in Constructive Physics.     

An approach to the synthesis of fuzzy stabilization systems with a priori unknown model of an object

A method of synthesis of fuzzy stabilization systems for a broad class of dynamic objects under the assumption that the mathematical model of the object is not known a priori is proposed. The control is formulated in the form of a proportional law of adjustment as a function of a macro-variable; the square of the Euclidean norm of the phase variables is adopted as the macro-variable. An analogous variable characterizes the distance of the object from the equilibrium position. Despite the simplicity of the control law, its sign remains constant due to the fact that the macro-variable is positive-definite over the entire phase space. The switching times of the signals are determined by fuzzy identification of the system’s dynamic modes on the basis of measurement of the derivatives of the macro-variable.     

Forage quality of savannas — Simultaneously mapping foliar protein and polyphenols for trees and grass using hyperspectral imagery

Savanna covers about two-thirds of Africa, with forage quantity and quality being important factors determining the distribution and density of wildlife and domestic stock. Testing hypotheses about the distribution of herbivores is hampered by the absence of reliable methods for measuring the variability of vegetation quality (e.g. biochemical composition) across the landscape. It is demonstrated that hyperspectral remote sensing fills this gap by revealing simultaneously the spatial variation of foliar nitrogen (crude protein) as well as the total amount of polyphenols, in grasses and trees. For the first time, the pattern of resources important for feeding preferences in herbivores (polyphenols and nitrogen) is mapped across an extensive landscape and the modeled foliar concentrations are shown to fit with ecological knowledge of the area. We explain how estimates of nitrogen (crude protein) and polyphenols may be scaled up from point-based observations to reveal their spatial pattern, and how the variation in forage quality can influence the management of savannas, including farms, communal grazing areas, and conservation areas. It provides a glimpse of the choices herbivores must face in selecting food resources of different qualities.     

Innovative uses of ICT in Chilean schools

Abstract This paper presents some of the results of the study of seven cases of innovative pedagogical practices using ICT. The study was performed in the framework of the application of SITES M2 in Chile. The results are divided in two sections. First is a summary of each case, highlighting its innovative characteristics that serve as models of 'good practice' for Chilean teachers. Second, the results of the analysis of what teachers did are outlined; the impact on students and the type of teaching and learning activities in use. Results show that these projects did not provide evidence of having impact on students' learning as defined in the national curriculum. However, they show that students participating in these projects could learn other things, had the opportunity to develop abilities defined as cross-curricular and practised ICT related skills. The analysis of the teaching and learning activities highlights some deficiencies in the way that teachers implement new teaching strategies.     

动态规划求解中国象棋状态总数

中国象棋空间复杂度是分析中国象棋博弈难度的重要指标，中国象棋空间复杂度分析是一个计数问题，即求解中国象棋状态总数。根据中国象棋棋子的着法特征，该问题可分解为若干子问题，利用动态规划分别解决这些子问题，能够求出中国象棋状态总数的精确解。实验得出中国象棋状态总数约为7.54×10^39.88，过去许多文献描述的中国象棋状态总数是不准确的，远远高估了中国象棋状态总数。基于动态规划的计数方法也可以用于计算其他棋类的空间复杂度，也能够用于寻找空间复杂度较低的残局棋型，为构建中国象棋残局库提供依据。     

磁盘缓存管理机制研究

磁盘缓存是解决I/O性能的一种技术。文章主要讲述缓存管理组成、算法的种类及其管理策略。并对基于频率的替换算法的原理、实现方法做了详细阐述。     

群智能新研究:角色?匹配的狼群劳动分工

启发于生物狼群群体的劳动分工行为,本文提出一种新颖的角色?匹配狼群劳动分工方法。通过剖析自然狼群的生物学行为,概括提炼出狼群劳动分工行为的个体任务的专职化、个体角色可塑性和任务分配均衡性3个典型特征,并建立了生物狼群劳动分工行为与普适性任务分配问题之间的仿生映射关系;从狼群“个体?个体”+“个体?环境”的交互方式角度出发,分析了角色?匹配的狼群劳动分工的个体角色转换和任务调整机制,研究了狼群角色?匹配的柔性劳动分工机制,提出了一种新的群智能方法,即角色?匹配的狼群劳动分工方法;将狼群的角色?匹配劳动分工与蚁群的刺激?响应劳动分工和蜂群的激发?抑制劳动分工进行了比较分析,并展示出角色?匹配狼群劳动分工方法的应用前景。     

Real-world effectiveness of Ergonomic methods

The way ahead with the practical development and application of Ergonomic methods is through a better anticipation and appreciation of changes to system effectiveness and human work that will be incurred through the introduction of new technologies to the workplace. These improvements will involve an improved awareness by the system of the working context and environment. The argued future is with improvements in the handling and use of knowledge by systems. The development of suitable Ergonomics methods, or the careful adaptation of existing methods, should accompany any technological revolution. Moreover, future methods are needed that are specifically developed to be applicable to the real time study of work considering both work context and the amalgamation of results from the use of many diverse methods throughout the design and development life cycle of a system. Part of this process will be a necessary complementation of both quantitative and qualitative methods and guidelines. Another focus should be on creating improved Ergonomics participation within multidisciplinary system design and development environments throughout the system's life cycle. Only through this avenue can Ergonomics show a consistent and valued contribution to quality design and its development. In parallel to such a contribution will be an acceptance by other engineering disciplines, managers, and customers that such an application of Ergonomics is cost effective.     

Avoiding semantic and temporal gaps in developing software intensive systems

Development of software intensive systems (systems) in practice involves a series of self-contained phases for the lifecycle of a system. Semantic and temporal gaps, which occur among phases and among developer disciplines within and across phases, hinder the ongoing development of a system because of the interdependencies among phases and among disciplines. Such gaps are magnified among systems that are developed at different times by different development teams, which may limit reuse of artifacts of systems development and interoperability among the systems. This article discusses such gaps and a systems development process for avoiding them.     

应用集成模式研究

随着信息技术的迅猛发展,各单位都建有各种不同业务和管理信息系统.由于这些信息系统大都没有经过统一规划,造成了"信息孤岛"等问题,于是产生了系统集成的需求,包括对现有主要集成模式的描述,对主要集成模式比较后得出的结论及对应用集成技术主要发展趋势的展望3个部分.     

Complement of Source Equation of Elastic Line

A new notion of joint, defined in terms of the state of motor (active or locked) and type of the elastic or rigid element, gear and/or link that follows after the motor, is introduced. Special attention is paid to the motion of the flexible links in the robotic configuration. The paper deals with the relationship between the equation of elastic line equilibrium, the “Euler–Bernoulli approach” (EBA), and equation of motion at the point of elastic line tip, the “Lumped-mass approach” (LMA). The Euler–Bernoulli equations (which have for a long time been used in the literature) should be expanded according to the requirements of the motion complexity of elastic robotic systems. The Euler–Bernoulli equation (based on the known laws of dynamics) should be supplemented with all the forces that are participating in the formation of the elasticity moment of the considered mode. This yields the difference in the structure of Euler–Bernoulli equations for each mode. The stiffness matrix is a full matrix. Mathematical model of the actuators also comprises coupling between elasticity forces. Particular integral of Daniel Bernoulli should be supplemented with the stationary character of elastic deformation of any point of the considered mode, caused by the present forces. General form of the elastic line is a direct outcome of the system motion dynamics, and cannot be described by one scalar equation but by three equations for position and three equations for orientation of every point on that elastic line. The choice of reference trajectory is analyzed. Simulation results are shown for a selected robotic example involving the simultaneous presence of elasticity of the gear and of the link (two modes), as well as the environment force dynamics.     

How do children do mathematics with LOGO?

Abstract  This paper considers some results of a study designed to investigate the kinds of mathematical activity undertaken by children (aged between 8 and 11) as they learned to program in LOGO. A model of learning modes is proposed, which attempts to describe the ways in which children used and acquired understanding of the programming/mathematical concepts involved. The remainder of the paper is concerned with discussing the validity and limitations of the model, and its implications for further research and curriculum development.     

Environmental ergonomics: a review of principles, methods and models

A review of the principles, methods and models used in environmental ergonomics is provided in terms of the effects of heat and cold, vibration, noise and light on the health, comfort and performance of people. Environmental ergonomics is an integral part of the discipline of ergonomics and should be viewed and practised from that perspective. Humans do not respond to the environment in a way monotonically related to direct measures of the physical environment. There are human characteristics which determine human sensitivities and responses. Practical methods for assessing responses to individual environmental components are presented as well as responses to ‘total’ environments and current and proposed International Standards concerned with the ergonomics of the physical environment.     

3 Laser transmission joining in microtechnology

The laser is a joining tool which is particularly suitable for the application in microtechnology. The process variant laser transmission joining can be used both for welding thermoplastics and bonding of silicon and glass. The investigations presented in this paper cover detailed examinations of both processes. Concerning laser transmission welding of plastics it is examined how far the content of carbon black in the material influences the formation of the weld seam. It is shown that the optical depth of penetration, the weld seam width as well as the formation of the weld morphology differ with varying content of carbon black. Selective laser radiation bonding (SLB) is a novel method for joining silicon and glass based on the transmission heating of the interface of both joining partners and the thermo-chemical principles of silicon direct bonding. SLB shows advantages in reference to the thermal load of sensitive components like sensors and to the selectivity of the joining geometry. In this study the principle method of SLB and the latest advances like the integration of the thermal process control in the laser processing head will be presented. Also experimental test results of the process with constant laser power and thermal process control and the comparison of them will be shown.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Calculating Gross Domestic Product as a Function of Labor and Capital

A model of calculation of gross domestic product (GDP) is determined with the use of macroeconomic regularities: the GDP is expressed in terms of the Cobb-Douglas production function depending on the number of workers and on the amount of capital in the production sphere; the function of real equilibrium wages depending on capital intensity of labor in the production sphere in case of full employment of population; the function of supply of labor depending on income from capital per head of population and on condition of maximum utility of housekeeping; the functions of demand for labor depending on real wages.     

人工系统中数据–因素–算力–算法作用及相互关系研究

目前的研究认为人工智能的核心是数据、算法和算力,但因素在形成人工智能系统过程中是必不可少的。论文针对人工系统中的数据、算力、算法和因素的各自作用,及其相互关系进行了探讨和论证。从人工系统的内涵出发,描述人工系统的发展过程,认为目前和今后的人工系统必将具有人工智能特征,而实现人工系统要充分考虑上述四方面的相互作用。研究结果表明:数据是人工系统辨识因素的基础,也是形成算法的基础;因素是人工系统控制自然系统的方法及算法所需变量;算法体现了因素与数据关系,可描述人工系统结构;算力是解算算法的能力,也需考虑数据和因素的特征。因此因素在人工系统建立过程中与数据、算法和算力具有相同的重要性。它们具有明显的作用关系,且普遍存在于各个学科,是形成各学科理论基础体系的关键。