Model checking communicative agent-based systems

Model checking is a formal technique used to verify communication protocols against given properties. In this paper, we propose a new model checking algorithm aims at verifying systems designed as a set of autonomous interacting agents. These software agents are equipped with knowledge and beliefs and interact with each other according to protocols governed by a set of logical rules. We present a tableauased version of this algorithm and provide the soundness, completeness, termination and complexity results. A case study about an agent-based negotiation protocol and its implementation are also described.     

Multiclass classification of Parkinson’s disease using different classifiers and LLBFS feature selection algorithm

Since approximately 90% of the people with PD (Parkinson’s disease) suffer from speech disorders including disorders of laryngeal, respiratory and articulatory function, using voice analysis disease can be diagnosed remotely at an early stage with more reliability and in an economic way. All previous works are done to distinguish healthy people from people with Parkinson’s disease (PWP). In this paper, we propose to go further by multiclass classification with three classes of Parkinson stages and healthy control. So we have used 40 features dataset, all the features are analyzed and 9 features are selected to classify PWP subjects in four classes, based on unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Various classifiers are used and their comparison is done to find out which one gives the best results. Results show that the subspace discriminant reach more than 93% overall classification accuracy.     

Stability analysis of discrete-time Lur’e systems

A class of Lyapunov functions is proposed for discrete-time linear systems interconnected with a cone bounded nonlinearity. Using these functions, we propose sufficient conditions for the global stability analysis, in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI), only taking the bounded sector condition into account. Unlike frameworks based on the Lur’e-type function, the additional assumptions about the derivative or discrete variation of the nonlinearity are not necessary. Hence, a wider range of cone bounded nonlinearities can be covered. We also show that there is a link between global stability LMI conditions based on this new Lyapunov function and a transfer function of an auxiliary system being strictly positive real. In addition, the novel function is considered in the local stability analysis problem of discrete-time Lur’e systems subject to a saturating feedback. A convex optimization problem based on sufficient LMI conditions is formulated to maximize an estimate of the basin of attraction. Another specificity of this new Lyapunov function is the fact that the estimate is composed of disconnected sets. Numerical examples reveal the effectiveness of this new Lyapunov function in providing a less conservative estimate with respect to the quadratic function.     

A utility maximization approach for information-communication tradeoff in Wireless Body Area Networks

Healthcare systems have made a dramatic shift towards ubiquitous monitoring in the recent past. The reasons for such a change have been ease of timely diagnosis, convenience and comfort of clinical treatments. Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are mainly characterized by deployment of biomedical sensors around human body which transmit vital signs measurements about the health status of the patient. Unfortunately, the huge traffic load of clinical data and limited resources of biomedical sensors make the efficiency of long-term operations almost impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to make significant advances in sensor’s energy saving. Our idea is to reduce the activities of some sensors depending on the relevance between the data they measure and the diseases to detect. This paper shows how to extend the lifetime of medical WBANs by appropriately taking benefit of correlation between the knowledge about the disease and sensing data to drive the best scheduling of the medical sensors. For that, the theoretical framework of an economic approach, i.e., network utility maximization, is developed for sensor scheduling under operations cost constraint. It is shown that the compact subset of sensors can be found to provide necessary information for timely and correct diagnoses. Based on the theoretical framework, an algorithm combining sensor selection and information gain is then proposed. Simulation results show that the algorithm achieves high performance in terms of energy saving vs latency in disease detection.     

Microbial fuel cells for bioelectricity generation through reduction of hexavalent chromium in wastewater: A review

The study proposes the use of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology to reduce toxic Cr(VI) present in industrial wastewater to less toxic trivalent chromium [Cr(III)], while generating electricity through a bioelectrochemical oxidation-reduction process. Factors influencing the treatment process and electricity generation include the concentration of Cr(VI) in wastewater, substrate types used for anodes, types of microorganisms involved, types of cathode and anode, surface area of the cathode and anode, and pH and temperature of cathodic and anodic solutions. While other heavy metals in wastewater may be removed by MFC technology, Cr(VI) removal is more efficient in terms of electricity generation. Previous research indicated that the maximum electrical power generated by Cr(VI) removal through the use of MFCs is 1600 mW/m², which is expected to increase as the factors affecting this process are optimized. Based on current data, MFC-based electricity generation along with Cr(VI) removal is a potential future source of sustainable energy. However, research priorities need to focus on reducing the cost of MFC technology by using economical and effective materials and increasing electricity production.     

High dielectric permittivity and percolative behavior of polyvinyl alcohol/potassium dihydrogen phosphate composites

A new kind of anhydrous, transparent, and flexible potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄ or KDP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite in the form of film (0.10 mm) has been prepared by solution casting technique. KDP is well dispersed in the polymer matrix as observed from the microstructural studies. Frequency and temperature dependent dielectric properties of the composites have been studied with varying KDP concentrations. The PVA/KDP composite films exhibited extraordinarily high relative permittivity ε′ ∼ 430 (80 times higher compared with pure PVA and even higher than KDP) near the percolation threshold (ϕ_C = 2.5 wt % KDP) with low dielectric losses (∼ 0.15) at 1 kHz and room temperature. Such flexible, low loss and high dielectric permittivity material has enormous importance for application in devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Oxy‐fuel combustion technology: current status,applications, and trends

The increased level of emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere due to burning of fossil fuels represents one of the main barriers toward the reduction of greenhouse gases and the control of global warming. In the last decades, the use of renewable and clean sources of energies such as solar and wind energies has been increased extensively. However, due to the tremendously increasing world energy demand, fossil fuels would continue in use for decades which necessitates the integration of carbon capture technologies (CCTs) in power plants. These technologies include oxycombustion, pre‐combustion, and post‐combustion carbon capture. Oxycombustion technology is one of the most promising carbon capture technologies as it can be applied with slight modifications to existing power plants or to new power plants. In this technology, fuel is burned using an oxidizer mixture of pure oxygen plus recycled exhaust gases (consists mainly of CO₂). The oxycombustion process results in highly CO₂‐concentrated exhaust gases, which facilitates the capture process of CO₂ after H₂O condensation. The captured CO₂ can be used for industrial applications or can be sequestrated. The current work reviews the current status of oxycombustion technology and its applications in existing conventional combustion systems (including gas turbines and boilers) and novel oxygen transport reactors (OTRs). The review starts with an introduction to the available CCTs with emphasis on their different applications and limitations of use, followed by a review on oxycombustion applications in different combustion systems utilizing gaseous, liquid, and coal fuels. The current status and technology readiness level of oxycombustion technology is discussed. The novel application of oxycombustion technology in OTRs is analyzed in some details. The analyses of OTRs include oxygen permeation technique, fabrication of oxygen transport membranes (OTMs), calculation of oxygen permeation flux, and coupling between oxygen separation and oxycombustion of fuel within the same unit called OTR. The oxycombustion process inside OTR is analyzed considering coal and gaseous fuels. The future trends of oxycombustion technology are itemized and discussed in details in the present study including: (i) ITMs for syngas production; (ii) combustion utilizing liquid fuels in OTRs; (iii) oxy‐combustion integrated power plants and (iv) third generation technologies for CO₂ capture. Techno‐economic analysis of oxycombustion integrated systems is also discussed trying to assess the future prospects of this technology. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of plasma parameters on increasing the purity of nitrogen atom encapsulated fullerene in an RF plasma

Relatively high purity of nitrogen atom encapsulated fullerene (N@C₆₀) has been synthesized by an electron beam superimposed radio frequency (RF) discharge plasma method. Nitrogen species are characterized by an optical emission spectroscopy (OES); and a relationship between optical emission spectra and the purity of N@C₆₀ has been examined. It is observed that the increased amount of nitrogen molecule ions impinging on the sublimated fullerenes enhance the synthesis of N@C₆₀. Here, it is cleared that the efficient synthesis of N@C₆₀ is possible by controlling the parameters of electron beam superimposed RF plasma. As a consequence, comparatively high purity of about 0.08% of N@C₆₀ has been obtained.     

Application nonparametric criteria in the analysis of oil fields development

Waterflood or pressure maintenance project is considered one of several methods of enhanced oil recovery, which is widely being used in oil fields. Water injection efficiency analysis is very important for operation future plan and finds out if any opportunity is available to improve project performance. The conventional methods beside nonparametric criteria have been applied in this research in order to evaluate water injection operation. Gini coefficient analysis has been used to illustrate the water injection impact in terms of oil and water production trends over the time of injection operation.