The role of intelligent agents and data mining in electronic partnership management

The marketspaces of the “New Economy” and the eServices revolution have enabled the formation of new types of partnerships which are electronically mediated. Web-based electronic commerce has also brought a tremendous increase in the volume of data that can be mined for valuable managerial knowledge. The data mining procedures used in this process can be enhanced by employing intelligent agents. This paper describes emerging electronic partnerships between players in developing electronic marketspaces and identifies typical data flows between such players, with an analysis of the potential role of data mining and intelligent agent technology. By identifying the complex nature of information flows between the vast numbers of economic entities, we identify opportunities for applying data mining techniques that can lead to knowledge discovery. In particular, we show how a Generic Agent-based data Mining Architecture (GAMA) can be customized to support managerial decision-making and problem solving in a networked economy. A prototype implementation of GAMA is presented, along with a demonstration of the some of the capabilities of the system. Finally, we explore the role of agents in promoting and maintaining strong automated relationships between various strategic partners.     

Design of a high performance architecture for real-time enhancement of video stream captured in extremely low lighting environment

A high performance digital architecture for the implementation of a non-linear image enhancement technique is proposed in this paper. The image enhancement is based on a luminance dependent non-linear enhancement algorithm which achieves simultaneous dynamic range compression, colour consistency and lightness rendition. The algorithm provides better colour fidelity, enhances less noise, prevents the unwanted luminance drop at the uniform luminance areas, keeps the ‘bright’ background unaffected, and enhances the ‘dark’ objects in ‘bright’ background. The algorithm contains a large number of complex computations and thus it requires specialized hardware implementation for real-time applications. Systolic, pipelined and parallel design techniques are utilized effectively in the proposed FPGA-based architectural design to achieve real-time performance. Estimation techniques are also utilized in the hardware algorithmic design to achieve faster, simpler and more efficient architecture. The video enhancement system is implemented using Xilinx’s multimedia development board that contains a VirtexII-X2000 FPGA and it is capable of processing approximately 67 Mega-pixels (Mpixels) per second.     

Design of an efficient VLSI architecture for non-linear spatial warping of wide-angle camera images

Endoscopic images are subjected to spatial distortion due to the wide-angle configuration of the camera lenses. This barrel type of non-linear distortion should be corrected before these images are subjected to further analysis for diagnostic purposes. An efficient digital architecture suitable for an embedded system which can correct the barrel distortion in real-time is presented in this paper. The theoretical approach of this spatial warping technique is based on least-squares estimation. The images in the distorted image space are mapped onto the corrected image space by using a polynomial mapping model. The polynomial parameters include the expansion coefficients, back-mapping coefficients, distortion centre and corrected centre. Several experiments were conducted by applying the spatial warping algorithm on many endoscopic images. A digital architecture suitable for hardware implementation of the distortion correction technique is developed by mapping the algorithmic steps onto a linear array of processing modules. Each module of a particular unit communicates with its nearest neighbours. The spatial warping architecture implemented and simulated with Altera’s Quartus II software shows an overall computation time of 1.8 ms with 50 MHz clock for an image of size 256 × 192 pixels, which confirms that the spatial warping module could be mounted as a dedicated unit in an endoscopy system for real-time applications.     

Supporting mass customization with agent-based coordination

Mass customization (MC) often implies a value chain with several spatially distributed actors that require extensive coordination. Agent technology is beginning to be utilized in supply chain management because of its ability to facilitate collaboration and coordination. Thus, agents are suitable for constructing MC environments and interfacing the various participants working together to archive the common goal of producing customized goods. This paper presents a multi-agent system architecture for MC, which takes into account the coordination problems that exist in MC. Because of asymmetric and incomplete knowledge bases, agents may be limited in global planning and scheduling. Therefore, we suggest a three-tier model of coordination and utilize partial global plans for addressing the coordination problem. Finally, we provide an example application and a prototype implementation for the MC coordination. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the WeB03 workshop.     

Estimation of fuel and clad temperature of a research reactor during dry period of de-fuelling operation

Heat transfer and fluid flow studies related to spent fuel bundle of a research reactor in fuelling machine has been carried out. When the fuel is in reactor core, the heat generated in the fuel bundle is removed by heavy water under normal reactor operation. However, during the de-fuelling operation, the fuel bundle is exposed to air for some period called dry period. During this period, the decay heat from fuel bundle has to be removed by air flow. This flow of air is induced by natural convection only. In this period, the temperatures of fuel and clad rise. If clad temperature rises beyond a certain limit, structural failure may occur. This failure can result into release of fission products from fuel rod. Hence the temperature of clad has to be within specified limit under all conditions. The objective of this study is to estimate the clad temperature rise during the dry period.In the CFD simulation, the turbulent natural convection flow over fuel and radiation heat transfer are accounted. Standard k-? model for turbulence, Boussinesq approximation for computing the natural convection flow and IMMERSOL model for radiation are used.The steady state and transient CFD simulation of flow and heat is performed, using the CFD code PHOENICS. The steady state analysis provides the maximum temperature the clad will attain if fuel bundle is left exposed to air for sufficiently long time. For safe operation, the clad temperature should be limited to a specified value. From steady state CFD analysis, it is found that steady state clad temperature for various decay powers is higher than the limiting value. Hence transient analysis is also performed. In the transient analysis, the variation of clad temperature with time is predicted for various decay powers. Safe dry time, i.e. the time required for clad to reach the limiting value, is predicted for various decay powers. Determination of safe dry time helps in deciding the time available to the operator to drop the bundle in light water pool for storage. The analysis is found useful in optimizing the de-fuelling process.     

Immunomodulatory effects of a polysaccharide from Tamarindus indica

Using a streptavidin/biotin labeling technique, we unintentionally cloned a gene encoding a biotin carboxyl carrier protein, a subunit of biotin-dependent enzymes, from a genomic library of Streptococcus mutans strain UT-041. In colony lifts, the clone reacted positively to the streptavidin-containing detection system but could not be detected in Southern blot analysis. The amino acid sequence of the gene product, deduced from its nucleotide sequence, demonstrated all the features common to biotin carboxyl carrier proteins from other bacteria, indicating that the biotin carboxyl carrier protein in the clone had produced a "false-positive" (DNA probe-independent) reaction by binding to the streptovidin. To circumvent this problem with the detection system in gene probing in the future, we recommend that all positive clones be screened by direct incubation with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (SA-AP) in the absence of biotin-labeled probe DNA. Clones binding to SA-AP would be considered false positives.     

Expert system technology in organisational process domain modelling

Abstract: Organisational processes are repetitive, time-consuming and interdependent, requiring several members to interact for successful completion. Moreover, when organisations change their operating procedures it becomes difficult to carry out even routine tasks because of the confusion and lack of communication. By studying the organisational processes and the knowledge required to execute them, we can create generic process models that could be stored persistently in a repository. This process repository can serve as a corporate knowledge base, which could be accessed by intelligent computer assistants for automating organisational processes. This paper presents a framework of intelligent assistants that can emulate the behaviour of human agents in organisational problem-solving. The generic process models can also be customised to meet the changing needs of the organisation. We present a domain modelling approach to organisational process modelling and an expert system for customising process models. The paper also describes the architecture and design of the proof-of-concept prototype that supports organisational process modelling, as well as process execution through intelligent computer assistants.     

Forbidden reflections from the aramid PPTA—A novel correlation with stacking faults

The occurrence of space group forbidden reflections in the X-ray diffraction patterns from the aramid PPTA has been correlated with the presence of stacking faults. The fraction of sample affected by the presence of such faults has also been estimated.     

Properties of Natural Fibers Separated from Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha

This paper reports the possibility of separating natural fibers from two invasive alien plants Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha. These two are considered as high-risk species on the basis their invasiveness and being a menace to the natural biodiversity of Kerala, India. Water retting and alkali extraction methods were used for the separation of stem fibers. Fibers obtained showed similar properties to currently used common fibers. Based on morphometric measurements and derived values, such as slenderness ratio, flexibility ratio, and Runkel ratio, these fibers are expected to be suitable for industrial purposes.