A combined scheme of edge-based and node-based smoothed finite element methods for Reissner–Mindlin flat shells

In this paper, a combined scheme of edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM) and node-based smoothed finite element method (NS-FEM) for triangular Reissner–Mindlin flat shells is developed to improve the accuracy of numerical results. The present method, named edge/node-based S-FEM (ENS-FEM), uses a gradient smoothing technique over smoothing domains based on a combination of ES-FEM and NS-FEM. A discrete shear gap technique is incorporated into ENS-FEM to avoid shear-locking phenomenon in Reissner–Mindlin flat shell elements. For all practical purpose, we propose an average combination (aENS-FEM) of ES-FEM and NS-FEM for shell structural problems. We compare numerical results obtained using aENS-FEM with other existing methods in the literature to show the effectiveness of the present method.     

Fuzzy geographically weighted clustering using artificial bee colony: An efficient geo-demographic analysis algorithm and applications to the analysis of crime behavior in population

Geo-demographic analysis is an essential part of a geographical information system (GIS) for predicting people’s behavior based on statistical models and their residential location. Fuzzy Geographically Weighted Clustering (FGWC) serves as one of the most efficient algorithms in geo-demographic analysis. Despite being an effective algorithm, FGWC is sensitive to initialize when the random selection of cluster centers makes the iterative process falling into the local optimal solution easily. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), one of the most popular meta-heuristic algorithms, can be regarded as the tool to achieve global optimization solutions. This research aims to propose a novel geo-demographic analysis algorithm that integrates FGWC to the optimization scheme of ABC for improving geo-demographic clustering accuracy. Experimental results on various datasets show that the clustering quality of the proposed algorithm called FGWC-ABC is better than those of other relevant methods. The proposed algorithm is also applied to a decision-making application for analyzing crime behavior problem in the population using the US communities and crime dataset. It provides fuzzy rules to determine the violent crime rate in terms of linguistic labels from socioeconomic variables. These results are significant to make predictions of further US violent crime rate and to facilitate appropriate decisions on prevention such the situations in the future.     

A review of audio guides in the era of smart tourism

The tourism industry is intimately related to the development of technology. Currently, technology-integrated “smart tourism” provides convenience and interactivity, and offers personalized services to tourists. However, the use of the technology-mediated audio guides among tourists in cultural heritage sites is not as active as expected. The underutilization of the audio guides in palaces is confirmed by a survey at Gyeongbok-gung palace, and the underlying reasons are examined by interviewing visitors to Chateau de Versailles. This paper analyzes the low usage of audio guides as a case-study, utilizing Cohen’s basic concepts of tour guides, Dann’s tourist motivation theory and the museum ecology of Bell. Consequently, this paper confirms the multifunctional complexity of audio guides, and suggests improvement of them in functionality (user-friendliness, usability, interactivity and social functions) for program developers, and the strategic use of ICT in promotion of palaces as smart tourism destination in cultural heritage management.     

Studies on a LaF3‐coated MgO protecting layer in AC‐plasma‐display panels

A new protecting layer, a LaF₃‐coated MgO layer, in color AC‐plasma‐display panels (PDPs) was studied in order to overcome the weakness of the conventional single MgO protecting layer. The material characteristics of the new layer were examined by using variations in the deposition process. The display characteristics were also examined by implementing their processes to actual PDPs. It was demonstrated that this method is effective in lowering the firing and sustaining voltages of PDPs and enhancing the brightness of the panel as well.     

Time-bound negotiation framework for electronic commerce agents

For efficient and informative coordination of agents especially in electronic commerce environment, a time-bound agent negotiation framework is proposed utilizing a time-based commitment scheme. By attaching commitment duration to agent messages, the traditional contract net protocol is extended to a time-bound negotiation framework (TBNF). The proposed negotiation framework has a new message type which allows for parties to agree upon the extension of a commitment duration, and a novel commitment concept in the form of negative commitment. The semantics of the messages with the commitment duration are interpreted, and then the three typical negotiation protocols are formally defined and compared — nothing-guaranteed protocol, acceptance-guaranteed protocol, and finite-time guarantee protocol — which can be incorporated into TBNF. The TBNF should provide a background for efficient and effective electronic commerce negotiation while accommodating each agent's adaptive negotiation strategy.     

A sales agent for part manufacturers: VMSA

The sales activity of most parts manufacturing companies is based on orders of buyers. The process of promotion, receipt and selection of orders of the parts manufacturers is closely coupled with the load status of the production lines. On deciding whether to accept an order or not, as well as negotiating with buyers, sales persons need information such as load and schedule of production lines, and manufacturability of the order. Manufacturability analysis, process planning, and scheduling are therefore key features in developing an agent of sales activity for the parts manufacturing business. In this paper, an intelligent agent, a virtual manufacturing-based sales agent (VMSA) with multi-agent architecture is proposed to support the sales activity for the parts manufacturers in the Internet environment. A VMSA has an integrated architecture of agent and virtual manufacturing. The prototype of VMSA has been developed for a machine parts manufacturing company that has lathe machines, drilling machines, cutting machines, and milling machines.     

Fault‐tolerant display image‐data‐manipulation unit for system‐on‐panel

Abstract— Bit‐partitioned and conventional shifts, as well as type transformations of multimedia data, are frequently used for display image‐processing systems. A data manipulation unit with fault‐recovery capability based on redundancies is proposed for system‐on‐panel with low processing technology yield. Utilizing data manipulations that are similar to normal shift operation, a proposed data‐manipulation unit is designed with a few additional paths added to the existing barrel shifter. The design methodologies are verified with FPGA and the performance is evaluated in terms of the advantages.     

A 2‐in. a‐Si:H TFT‐LCD with embedded backlight control TFT sensors with various channel widths

Abstract— A 2.0‐in. a‐Si:H TFT‐LCD with embedded TFT sensors for the control of the backlight intensity according to the ambient light intensity has been developed. Two types of a‐Si:H TFT sensors with various channel widths were embedded into a TFT backplane with bottom‐ and top‐gate structures for measuring the ambient light and backlight illumination, respectively. The output signal, measured by a readout IC, increased with backlight intensity until 20,000 lux.     

Dynamic Path Management with Resilience Constraints under Multiple Link Failures in MPLS/GMPLS Networks

Most previous research on MPLS/GMPLS recovery management has focused on efficient routing or signaling methods from single failures. However, multiple simultaneous failures may occur in large-scale complex virtual paths of MPLS/GMPLS networks. In this paper, we present a dynamic MPLS/GMPLS path management strategy in which the path recovery mechanism can rapidly find an optimal backup path which satisfies the resilience constraints under multiple link failure occurrences. We derived the conditions to test the existence of resilience-guaranteed backup path, and developed a decomposition theorem and backup path construction algorithm for the fast restoration of resilience-guaranteed backup paths, for the primary path with an arbitrary configuration. Finally, simulation results are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach.