Preparing computers for affective communication: a psychophysiological concept and preliminary results

Despite rapid advances in technology, computers remain incapable of responding to human emotions. An exploratory study was conducted to find out what physiological parameters might be useful to differentiate among 4 emotional states, based on 2 dimensions: pleasantness versus unpleasantness and arousal versus relaxation. The 4 emotions were induced by exposing 26 undergraduate students to different combinations of olfactory and auditory stimuli, selected in a pretest from 12 stimuli by subjective ratings of arousal and valence. Changes in electroencephalographic (EEG), heart rate variability, and electrodermal measures were used to differentiate the 4 emotions. EEG activity separates pleasantness from unpleasantness only in the aroused but not in the relaxed domain, where electrodermal parameters are the differentiating ones. All three classes of parameters contribute to a separation between arousal and relaxation in the positive valence domain, whereas the latency of the electrodermal response is the only differentiating parameter in the negative domain. We discuss how such a psychophysiological approach may be incorporated into a systemic model of a computer responsive to affective communication from the user.     

本体映射中一种综合的概念相似度计算方法

本体映射是实现异构本体间互操作的有效方法,其核心环节是概念相似度的计算。针对传统概念相似度计算方法中存在的不足之处,提出了一种综合的概念相似度计算方法——DISS模型。该算法从概念定义、概念实例、概念结构三个方面计算相似度。实验证明,该算法改善了传统计算方法中存在的片面性和不完善性问题,提高了本体映射的查全率和查准率。     

Treatment of initial deformations in the Integrated Force Method

A new force finite element formulation, termed the Integrated Force Method, has been developed in recent years for the structural analysis. In the Integrated Force Method all independent forces are treated as unknown variables which are calculated by simultaneously imposing the force equilibrium and strain compatibility. The Integrated Force Method is extended in this study for the treatment of initial strains. Initial strains are incorporated into compatibility conditions through the vector of initial deformations. A general expression for the vector of initial deformations is derived by discretizing the expression for the complementary potential energy of the structure. Two special cases of initial strains are analyzed in detail: (i) thermal strains and (ii) support settlements. The vector of initial deformations due to thermal loadings is derived by introducing expressions for thermal strains into the general expression, and that due to support settlements is derived directly by equating the work done by external and internal forces, respectively. Two example problems with available analytical solutions are solved using the present developments. A good agreement of results with analytical solutions is observed.     

A dominance concept for optimal control with partially unknown initial conditions

The problems considered here have costv(x_{o}, u), a quadratic in(x_{o}, u), wherexois interpreted as an initial condition anduas an unconstrained control variable. The aim is to chooseurationally when the only measurement available is the partial linear measurementy_{o} = Cx_{o}and whenushould be desirable for every xoconsistent with the measurement yo. A dominance concept is introduced which facilitates suitable choice ofu. Properties of suchuare studied. The results are applied to the standard linear regulator, giving an open-loop control dependent on yo, and to the problem of choosing the initial conditions for dynamic compensators.     

Integrated pulse stream neural networks: results, issues, andpointers

Results from working analog VLSI implementations of two different pulse stream neural network forms are reported. The circuits are rendered relatively invariant to processing variations, and the problem of cascadability of synapses to form large systems is addressed. A strategy for interchip communication of large numbers of neural states has been implemented in silicon and results are presented. The circuits demonstrated confront many of the issues that blight massively parallel analog systems, and offer solutions.     

Erlangen pipe flow: the concept and DNS results for microflow control of near-wall turbulence

The concept of a micropatterned surface morphology capable of producing self-stabilization of turbulence in wall-bounded flows is considered in pipes of non-circular cross-sections which act to restructure fluctuations towards the limiting state where these must be entirely suppressed. Direct numerical simulations of turbulence in pipes of polygon-shaped cross-sections with straight and profiled sides were performed at a Reynolds number $Re_\tau \simeq {\mathrm 300}$ based on the wall shear velocity and the hydraulic diameter. Using the lattice Boltzmann numerical algorithm, turbulence was resolved with up to ${\mathrm 540\times 10^6}$ grid points ( ${\mathrm 8,192\times 257 \times 256}$ in the x ₁, x ₂ and x ₃ directions). The DNS results show a decrease in the viscous drag around corners, resulting in a reduction of the skin-friction coefficient compared with expectations based on the well-established concept of hydraulic diameter and the use of the Blasius correlation. These findings support the conjecture that turbulence might be completely suppressed if the pipe cross-section is a polygon consisting of a sufficient number of profiled sides of the same length which intersect at right angles at the corners.     

Mining for knowledge in databases: The INLEN architecture,initial implementation and first results

The architecture of an intelligent multistrategy assistant for knowledge discovery from facts, INLEN, is described and illustrated by an exploratory application. INLEN integrates a database, a knowledge base, and machine learning methods within a uniform user-oriented framework. A variety of machine learning programs are incorporated into the system to serve as high-levelknowledge generation operators (KGOs). These operators can generate diverse kinds of knowledge about the properties and regularities existing in the data. For example, they can hypothesize general rules from facts, optimize the rules according to problem-dependent criteria, determine differences and similarities among groups of facts, propose new variables, create conceptual classifications, determine equations governing numeric variables and the conditions under which the equations apply, deriving statistical properties and using them for qualitative evaluations, etc. The initial implementation of the system, INLEN 1b, is described, and its performance is illustrated by applying it to a database of scientific publications.     

Learning decision trees from decision rules: A method and initial results from a comparative study

A standard approach to determining decision trees is to learn them from examples. A disadvantage of this approach is that once a decision tree is learned, it is difficult to modify it to suit different decision making situations. Such problems arise, for example, when an attribute assigned to some node cannot be measured, or there is a significant change in the costs of measuring attributes or in the frequency distribution of events from different decision classes. An attractive approach to resolving this problem is to learn and store knowledge in the form of decision rules, and to generate from them, whenever needed, a decision tree that is most suitable in a given situation. An additional advantage of such an approach is that it facilitates buildingcompact decision trees, which can be much simpler than the logically equivalent conventional decision trees (by compact trees are meant decision trees that may contain branches assigned aset of values, and nodes assignedderived attributes, i.e., attributes that are logical or mathematical functions of the original ones). The paper describes an efficient method, AQDT-1, that takes decision rules generated by an AQ-type learning system (AQ15 or AQ17), and builds from them a decision tree optimizing a given optimality criterion. The method can work in two modes: thestandard mode, which produces conventional decision trees, andcompact mode, which produces compact decision trees. The preliminary experiments with AQDT-1 have shown that the decision trees generated by it from decision rules (conventional and compact) have outperformed those generated from examples by the well-known C4.5 program both in terms of their simplicity and their predictive accuracy.     

New results in fuzzy clustering based on the concept ofindistinguishability relation

The issue of validity in clustering is considered and a definition of fuzzy r-cluster that extends E. Ruspini's definition (1982) is proposed. This definition is based on an indistinguishability relation based on the concept of t-norm. The fuzzy r-cluster's metrical properties are studied through the dual concept of t-conorm that leads to G-pseudometrics. From the concept of G-pseudometric, fuzzy r-clusters and fuzzy cluster coverages are defined. The authors propose a measure of cluster validity based on the concept of fuzzy coverage. The basic idea of the approach presented is that the smaller the difference between the degrees of membership and the degrees of indistinguishability, the better the clustering     

Fatigue analysis by local stress concept based on finite element results

The assessment of finite element results for dynamically loaded components requires local S/N-curves, which depend, under further effects, on the type of loading and the stress flow within the component. These influences are described with help of the stress gradient, which can easily be determined with finite element calculations. A model for the calculation of S/N-curves is presented, which takes into account the stress gradient to define the local stress limit, the number of cycles at the fatigue limit and the slope.     

Uniqueness,comparison, and existence results for third-order initial boundary value problems

We derive maximum principles for a nonlinear third-order differential operator, and prove uniqueness, comparison, and existence results for different types of third-order initial boundary value problems including existence results for functional problems.     

Existence results for dynamic inclusions on time scales with nonlocal initial conditions

This paper is mainly concerned with the existence of solutions for first order dynamic inclusions on time scales with nonlocal initial conditions. By using Bohnenblust–Karlin’s fixed point theorem and Leray–Schauder nonlinear alternative for multivalued maps, some sufficient conditions are established. An example is also included to illustrate our results.     

Application of Bayesian networks in prognostics for a new Integrated Vehicle Health Management concept

The aeronautics industry is attempting to implement important changes to its maintenance strategy. The article presents a new framework for making final decision on aeroplane maintenance actions. It emphasizes on the use of prognostics within this global framework to replace corrective and Preventive Maintenance practise for a predictive maintenance to minimize the cost of the maintenance support and to increase aircraft/fleet operability. The main objective of the article is to show the Bayesian network model as a useful technique for prognosis. The specific use case for predicting brake wear on the plane is developed based on this technique. The network allows estimate brake wear from the aircraft operational plan. This model, together with other models to make predictions for various components of the aeroplane (that should be monitored) offers a forward-looking approach of the status of the plane, allowing later the evaluation of different operational plans based on operational risk assessment and economic cost of each one of them depending on the scheduled checks.     

Existence results for impulsive neutral stochastic functional integro-differential inclusions with nonlocal initial conditions

In this paper, we prove the existence of mild solutions for a class of impulsive neutral stochastic functional integro-differential inclusions with nonlocal initial conditions and resolvent operators. Sufficient conditions for the existence are derived with the help of the fixed point theorem for multi-valued operators due to Dhage and the fractional power of operators. An example is provided to illustrate the theory.     

Application of the concept of evolving structure tensors to the modeling of initial and induced anisotropy at large deformation

In this work, a thermodynamic approach to the modeling and simulation of induced elastic and inelastic material behaviour in the phenomenological realm as based on the concept of evolving structure tensors is discussed. From the constitutive point of view, these quantities determine the material symmetry properties. In addition, the stress and other dependent constitutive fields are isotropic functions of these by definition. The evolution of these during loading then results in an evolution of the anisotropy of the material. From an algorithmic point of view, the current approach leads to constitutive models which are quite amenable to numerical implementation. To demonstrate the applicability of the resulting constitutive formulation, we apply it to the cases of (i) metal plasticity with combined hardening involving both deformation- and permanently induced anisotropy relevant to the modeling of processes such as metal forming, and to (ii) deformation-induced anisotropy in an initially orthotropic pneumatic membrane consisting of a rubber matrix and nylon fibres.     

Preparedness: Unpacking and clarifying the concept

Crisis studies increasingly focus on developing proactive strategies to minimize the effects of unwanted occurrences and contingencies. Preparedness constitutes a key component of this approach, as many crises are difficult to prevent. However, at the conceptual and practical levels, it remains difficult to distinguish preparedness from other crisis‐related concepts. This study draws on an extensive survey of the preparedness literature with the goal of elucidating its defining attributes. The results show that preparedness can be minimally characterized as measures that are of an active, continuous and anticipatory nature. Contextually definitions, however, may also include social, planned, non‐structural or enabling conceptual attributes.     

Design by customer: concept and applications

Customer satisfaction can be increased by reducing the gap between what customer really needs (customer requirements) and what manufacturer can provide (product specifications). The approach of Design for Customer where products are generated by translating customer needs into product specifications (in mass production system) or into product variety (in mass customization system) is not able to give optimum satisfaction to all customers. Some customers are still forced to relax their requirements and to accept predefined product in the assortment. This study proposes a new concept of Design by Customer to increase customer satisfaction by opening maximum possible channel for customers to involve in value creation so that they are no longer only searching for goods but they can also, when necessary, involve in production cycle to specify their own design. In order to ensure the viability of the proposed concept, the integration of multi customer involvement decoupling point, product attribute analysis, crowdscreening and new manufacturing strategy are introduced in this paper. Real products of resin-based table clocks are used as practical example to verify the concept applicability and to demonstrate its merit.     

无线认知网络概念与实例研究

提出了一种新的、以认知能力为基础的无线网络,称为无线认知网络。对无线认知网络进行了定义,对认知实体、认知进程和认知环境进行了分析和讨论,提出了无线认知网络的实体、网络、认知和控制4个关联层面,对无线认知网络的特点进行了阐述,并给出了技术上的挑战。在此基础上,从基础设施、层次结构和节点性质3个方面对无线认知网络进行了分类研究,在给出最小跨层设计原则与信息交换方法的基础上,提出了由基础层、网络适配层、应用开发环境层和应用逻辑层组成的4层软件体系结构。最后结合无线认知网络目前的惟一实例-认知无线电网络,对无线认知网络的实例化问题进行了讨论。