Modelling uncertainty with generalized credal sets: application to conjunction and decision

To model conflict, non-specificity and contradiction in information, upper and lower generalized credal sets are introduced. Any upper generalized credal set is a convex subset of plausibility measures interpreted as lower probabilities whose bodies of evidence consist of singletons and a certain event. Analogously, contradiction is modelled in the theory of evidence by a belief function that is greater than zero at empty set. Based on generalized credal sets, we extend the conjunctive rule for contradictory sources of information, introduce constructions like natural extension in the theory of imprecise probabilities and show that the model of generalized credal sets coincides with the model of imprecise probabilities if the profile of a generalized credal set consists of probability measures. We give ways how the introduced model can be applied to decision problems.     

A numerical study concerning brain stroke detection by microwave imaging systems

In this paper, a numerical study devoted to evaluate the application of a microwave imaging method for brain stroke detection is described. First of all, suitable operating conditions for the imaging system are defined by solving the forward electromagnetic scattering problem with respect to simplified configurations and analyzing the interactions between an illuminating electromagnetic wave at microwave frequencies and the biological tissues inside the head. Then, preliminary inversion results are obtained by applying an imaging procedure based on an iterative Gauss-Newton scheme to a realistic model of the human head. The proposed imaging algorithm is able to deal with the nonlinear and ill-posed problem associated to the integral equations describing the inverse scattering problem. The aim of the inversion procedure is related to the determination of the presence of a hemorrhagic brain stroke by retrieving the distributions of the dielectric parameters of the human tissues inside a slice of the head model.     

Cloud security technologies

You may have heard a new term that started making rounds very recently – “cloud-based security”. In this paper we describe past and contemporary security technologies based on the knowledge provided from the servers in the Internet “cloud”. We discuss how cloud-based malware scanners can simbiotically coexist with traditional scanning technologies, what are the advantages and limitations of the new approach. We also touch on the privacy aspects and challenges related to testing (especially comparative testing) of the cloud security solutions.     

Third-order Idealized Algol with iteration is decidable

The problems of contextual equivalence and approximation are studied for the third-order fragment of Idealized Algol with iteration (). They are approached via a combination of game semantics and language theory. It is shown that for each -term one can construct a pushdown automaton recognizing a representation of the strategy induced by the term. The automata have some additional properties ensuring that the associated equivalence and inclusion problems are solvable in Ptime. This gives an Exptime decision procedure for the problems of contextual equivalence and approximation for β-normal terms. Exptime-hardness of the problems, even for terms without iteration, is also shown.     

Morphological mismatches in machine translation

This paper addresses one of the least studied, although very important, problems of machine translation—the problem of morphological mismatches between languages and their handling during transfer. The level at which we assume transfer to be carried out is the Deep-Syntactic Structure (DSyntS) as proposed in the Meaning-Text Theory. DSyntS is abstract enough to avoid all types of surface morphological divergences. For the remaining ‘genuine’ divergences between grammatical significations, we propose a morphological transfer model. To illustrate this model, we apply it to the transfer of grammemes of definiteness and aspect for the language pair Russian–German and German–Russian, respectively.     

Multi-matrix opto-electronic system for measuring deformation of the millimeter range radiotelescope elements

A novel optical instrument is proposed and studied to measure the deformation of each connection point for a mirror, which includes 24 multi-matrix base units and can be used in millimeter-scale signal reflection systems. Experimental investigations reveal that the error of measurement is σ=8.7×10-3 mm at a distance of 5 500 mm, which allows to measure the linear deformation of a radiotelescope with the mirror diameter of 70 m.     

Controlling the complexity in model-based diagnosis

We present IDA — an incrementaldiagnosticalgorithm which computes minimal diagnoses from diagnoses, and not from conflicts. As a consequence of this, and by using different models, one can control the computational complexity. In particular, we show that by using a model of the normal behavior, the worst-case complexity of the algorithm to compute thek+1st minimal diagnosis isO(n ^2k ), wheren is the number of components. On the practical side, an experimental evaluation indicates that the algorithm can efficiently diagnose devices consisting of a few thousand components. We propose to use a hierarchy of models: first a structural model to compute all minimal diagnoses, then a normal behavior model to find the additional diagnoses if needed, and only then a fault model for their verification. IDA separates model interpretation from the search for minimal diagnoses in the sense that the model interpreter is replaceable. In particular, we show that in some domains it is advantageous to use the constraint logic programming system CLP(ß) instead of a logic programming system like Prolog.This is an extended version of the paper by Igor Mozeti, A polynomial-time algorithm for model-based diagnosis, which appears in theProc. European Conf. on Artificial Intelligence, ECAI-92, ed. B. Neumann (Wiley, 1992) pp. 729–733.     

Gender and Personality Trait Measures Impact Degree of Affect Change in a Hedonic Computing Paradigm

To date, affective computing research has acknowledged individual differences with regard to detecting affect, yet little research has explored how these individual differences may determine the degree to which affective computing is successful in manipulating the affect of specific computer users. The current study used individual difference measures to predict how much an individual can be influenced by a hedonic computing paradigm: a simple trivia game. Female participants responded in a greater way to positive affective feedback about their performance than did men. Moreover, several personality traits, including neuroticism, narcissism, self-esteem, and extraversion, augmented the degree to which affect changed as a result of playing the game. The results are consistent with the gender differences hypothesis, and the authors conclude that individual differences, particularly gender and personality traits, play a large role in the potential impact of computing platforms and would be useful in personalizing the affective nature of the human–computer interaction.     

Proteomics in paediatric cardiac surgery: Is a personalised approach feasible?

The incidence of congenital cardiac abnormalities remains high. Paediatric patients with congenital cardiac defects often require surgery at a young age. The surgeries are often long and complex, rendering this population particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac surgery. The search for cardioprotective strategies is ongoing in an attempt to reduce the morbidity in this population. In the post-genomic era, it is apparent that simply determining the genomic sequences holds little diagnostic potential and means to determine progression of disease and response to treatment. The field of proteomics is expanding and application of proteomic techniques in the clinical setting holds great potential to advance our understanding of the proteomic changes involved in specific disease stages. This review will assess the application of proteomic techniques in the setting of paediatric cardiac surgery and highlight the need to obtain a clear understanding of the role of various proteins in children with cardiac conditions. The success and challenges of the available proteomic technology will be discussed as well as the future potential of proteomic methods for advancing our understanding of protein changes in children requiring cardiac surgery.