A flexible videoconference system based on multiagent framework

We present a design and implementation of a flexible videoconference system (VCS) using multiagent computing technology. The proposed system, we named FVCS, aims to reduce the burden of the users under the operational environment with insufficient computational resources, such as the Internet environment with small-scale computers at homes and offices, by embedding flexibility to the conventional videoconference system. In this paper, we design and implement FVCS with knowledge-based multiagent framework to realize adaptability of FVCS. We also evaluate the adaptability of the prototype systems of FVCS based on an operational situation observed in its experiments. From the result of the experiments, we conclude that the multiagent-based design and implementation is reasonable for construction of FVCS.     

A cellular automata model considering diversity associated with HIV infection

The diversity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vivo has been reported. In this article, we propose a cellular automata (CA) model describing the interactions between the immune system and HIV, and examine the effect of the diversity of these interactions. The novel aspects of our CA model are that it not only considers four states (HIV, virgin, dead, infect) but also the diversity exhibited by both HIV and T cells. We simulated maximum diversities for these states by simulating CA on a computer. The model revealed that increased diversity had the effect of increasing the HIV population and simulation steps. In addition, we observed that the CA model accurately reflects the occurrence of infection, incubation period, and the development of AIDS. The CA model demonstrated that the diversity of the virus is the major factor affecting the success rate of the escape of HIV from the immune response. This work was presented in part at the 10th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, February 4–6, 2005     

Emulation of complex open quantum systems using superconducting qubits

With quantum computers being out of reach for now, quantum simulators are alternative devices for efficient and accurate simulation of problems that are challenging to tackle using conventional computers. Quantum simulators are classified into analog and digital, with the possibility of constructing “hybrid” simulators by combining both techniques. Here we focus on analog quantum simulators of open quantum systems and address the limit that they can beat classical computers. In particular, as an example, we discuss simulation of the chlorosome light-harvesting antenna from green sulfur bacteria with over 250 phonon modes coupled to each electronic state. Furthermore, we propose physical setups that can be used to reproduce the quantum dynamics of a standard and multiple-mode Holstein model. The proposed scheme is based on currently available technology of superconducting circuits consist of flux qubits and quantum oscillators.     

Detection of a brain aneurysm and a way to search for a brain aneurysm aimed at the development of a system to simulate an operation

In this article, a system is proposed for a simulated operation which would help a trainee surgeon to perform a medical operation to ensure that a cerebral aneurysm does not burst. The physician will have acquired empirical medical technologies from operations in traditional clinical teaching. However, there is a problem with safety and the burden to the patient. Therefore, recently a new training approach for a simulated medical operation using virtual reality has been explored. With the aim of developing a simulated system for a medical operation for a cerebral aneurysm, we considered the necessary functions such as detecting the brain aneurysm that is the target of the operation, and searching for a suitable blood vessel to make a plan for the operation.     

Speech recognition in living rooms: Integrated speech enhancement and recognition system based on spatial,spectral and temporal modeling of sounds

Research on noise robust speech recognition has mainly focused on dealing with relatively stationary noise that may differ from the noise conditions in most living environments. In this paper, we introduce a recognition system that can recognize speech in the presence of multiple rapidly time-varying noise sources as found in a typical family living room. To deal with such severe noise conditions, our recognition system exploits all available information about speech and noise; that is spatial (directional), spectral and temporal information. This is realized with a model-based speech enhancement pre-processor, which consists of two complementary elements, a multi-channel speech–noise separation method that exploits spatial and spectral information, followed by a single channel enhancement algorithm that uses the long-term temporal characteristics of speech obtained from clean speech examples. Moreover, to compensate for any mismatch that may remain between the enhanced speech and the acoustic model, our system employs an adaptation technique that combines conventional maximum likelihood linear regression with the dynamic adaptive compensation of the variance of the Gaussians of the acoustic model. Our proposed system approaches human performance levels by greatly improving the audible quality of speech and substantially improving the keyword recognition accuracy.     

A reduction method of dynamic false contour utilizing the frame‐rate‐control method with suppression of the side effect on PDPs

Abstract— The plasma‐display panel (PDP) is a type of flat‐panel display that can display a high‐quality image. However, when moving images are displayed, annoying disturbances such as false contour noise occurs. This noise is called dynamic false contour (DFC). To achieve a higher‐quality image, DFC has to be reduced. Therefore, a new method to reduce DFC is proposed. To find a way to reduce DFC, a new evaluation value for it has been defined: the evaluation value of dynamic false contour (EVDFC). This value is defined on the basis of a person's subjective evaluation. By applying this value, the cause that generates DFC can be identified. On the basis of these studies, a new method for reducing DFC by applying frame‐rate control (FRC) with suppression of the side effect is proposed. This improved method can be used to provide high‐quality images.     

Periodic distributions of inclusions

Elastic fields caused by periodically distributed spherical inclusions in an infinite isotropic medium are investigated when eigenstrains in the inclusions are homogeneous polynomials of degree $\text{l}$ of the local coordinates taken at the centers of the inclusions. The stress field can be expressed as a convergent sum of the solutions of individual inclusions when $\text{l}$ is an odd number. The stress field must be modified when $\text{l}$ is an even number. If a distribution of inclusions is on a plane or a line, the stress field can be expressed as a convergent sum of the individual inclusions for all $\text{l}$. The analysis is extended to general ellipsoidal inclusions with arbitrary eigenstrains in anisotropic media.     

An agent architecture for strategy-centric adaptive QoS control in flexible videoconference system

In this paper, we propose an agent architecture to improve flexibility of a videoconference system with strategy-centric adaptive QoS (Quality of Service) control mechanism. The proposed architecture realizes more flexibility by changing their QoS control strategies dynamically. To switch the strategies, system considers the properties of problems occurred on QoS and status of problem solving process. This architecture is introduced as a part of knowledge base of agent that deals with cooperation between software module of videoconference systems. We have implemented the mechanism, and our prototype system shows its capability of flexible problem solving against the QoS degradation, along with other possible problems within the given time limitation. Thus we confirmed that the proposed architecture can improve its flexibility of a videoconference system compared to traditional systems. Takuo Suganuma, Dr.Eng.: He is a research associate of Research Institute of Electrical Communication of Tohoku University. He received a Dr.Eng. degree from Chiba Institute of Technology in 1997. His research interests include agent-based computing and design methodology for distributed systems. He is a member of IPSJ, IEICE and IEEE. SungDoke Lee: He is a Ph.D. Student in the Graduate School of Information Sciences in Tohoku University. He received his MEng degree at Chonbuk National University, Korea in 1991. His research interests include Flexible Network and Knowledge of Agent. Tetsuo Kinoshita, Dr.Eng.: He is an associate professor of Research Institute of Electrical Communication of Tohoku University. He received a Dr.Eng. degree in information engineering from Tohoku University, Japan. His research interests include knowledge engineering, cooperative distributed processing and agent-based computing. He received the the IPSJ Best Paper Award in 1997, etc. He is a member of IPSJ, IEICE, JSAI, AAAI, ACM and IEEE. Norio Shiratori, Dr.Eng.: After receiving his Dr.Eng degree at Tohoku University, he joined the Research Institute of Electrical Communication of Tohoku University in 1977, and is now a professor at the same University. He has been engaged in research on distributed processing system, and flexible intelligent network. He received the 25th Anniversary of IPSJ Memorial Prize-Winning Paper Award in 1985, the 6th Telecommunications Advancement Foundation Incorporation Award in 1991, the Best Paper Award of ICOIN-9 in 1994, the IPSJ Best Paper Award in 1997, etc. He has been named a Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to the field of computer communication networks.     

SWAN: A distributed knowledge infrastructure for Alzheimer disease research

SWAN – a Semantic Web Application in Neuromedicine – is a project to develop an effective, integrated scientific knowledge infrastructure for Alzheimer Disease (AD) researchers, enabled by Semantic Web technology and deployed on Alzforum (www.alzforum.org), a scientific web community for AD research. This infrastructure may later be deployed for research communities in other neuromedical disorders. SWAN incorporates the full biomedical research knowledge lifecycle in its ontological model, including support for personal data organization, hypothesis generation, experimentation, lab data organization, and digital pre-publication collaboration. Community, laboratory, and personal digital resources may all be organized and interconnected using SWAN's common semantic framework.