A comprehensive solution for application‐level adaptation

Driven by the emergence of mobile and pervasive computing there is a growing demand for context‐aware software systems that can dynamically adapt to their run‐time environment. We present the results of project MADAM that has delivered a comprehensive solution for the development and operation of context‐aware, self‐adaptive applications. The main contributions of MADAM are (a) a sophisticated middleware that supports the dynamic adaptation of component‐based applications, and (b) an innovative model‐driven development methodology that is based on abstract adaptation models and corresponding model‐to‐code transformations. MADAM has demonstrated the viability of a general, integrated approach to application‐level adaptation. We discuss our experiences with two real‐world case studies that were built using the MADAM approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

System supports for protocol and application adaptation in vertical handoffs

In overlay networks, the network characteristics before and after a vertical handoff would be drastically different. Consequently, in this paper, we propose an end‐to‐end based scheme to support protocol and application adaptation in vertical handoffs. First, we proposed a Vertical‐handoff Aware TCP, called VA‐TCP. VA‐TCP can identify the packet losses caused by vertical handoffs. If segments losses are due to vertical handoffs, VA‐TCP only retransmits the missing segments but does not invoke the congestion control procedure. Moreover, VA‐TCP dynamically estimates the bandwidth and round‐trip time in a new network. Based on the estimated bandwidth and round‐trip time, VA‐TCP adjusts its parameters to respond to the new network environment. Second, during a vertical handoff, applications also need to be adapted accordingly. Therefore, we design a programming interface that allows applications to be notified upon and adapt to changing network environments. To support our interface, we utilize the signal mechanism to achieve kernel‐to‐user notification. Nevertheless, signals cannot carry information. Thus, we implement the shared memory mechanism between applications and the kernel to facilitate parameters exchange. Finally, we also provide a handoff‐aware CPU scheduler so that tasks that are interested in the vertical‐handoff event are given preference over other processes to attain a prompt response for new network conditions. We have implemented a prototype system on the Linux kernel 2.6. From the experimental results, our proposed protocol and application adaptation mechanisms are shown to effectively improve the performance of TCP and applications during vertical handoffs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CASE-BASED REASONING FOR MANAGING NONCOMPLIANCE WITH CLINICAL GUIDELINES

Despite the recognized advantages that can be obtained in clinical practice when following clinical guidelines (GL), situations of noncompliance with them may emerge. Keeping track of such deviations from the default GL execution, and documenting the physician's motivations, would clearly be an added value. Moreover, repeated alterations of GL actions (or flow) may highlight the need for an adaptation of the GL itself to the local reality, or may even indicate an improper or weak initial GL definition.
In this article, we propose an approach for managing noncompliance with GL, based on the case-based reasoning methodology. In front of a new noncompliance case, our tool allows the physician to retrieve past situations similar to the current one, and to decide whether to reapply the same GL modifications adopted in them. Moreover, the tool is able to learn indications from the ground noncompliance cases that can be deployed for local adaptation, and possibly, for suggesting more formal GL revisions to be carried out by a committee of expert physicians.     

Nonlinear system identification using optimized dynamic neural network

In this paper, both off-line architecture optimization and on-line adaptation have been developed for a dynamic neural network (DNN) in nonlinear system identification. In the off-line architecture optimization, a new effective encoding scheme—Direct Matrix Mapping Encoding (DMME) method is proposed to represent the structure of neural network by establishing connection matrices. A series of GA operations are applied to the connection matrices to find the optimal number of neurons on each hidden layer and interconnection between two neighboring layers of DNN. The hybrid training is adopted to evolve the architecture, and to tune the weights and input delays of DNN by combining GA with the modified adaptation laws. The modified adaptation laws are subsequently used to tune the input time delays, weights and linear parameters in the optimized DNN-based model in on-line nonlinear system identification. The effectiveness of the architecture optimization and adaptation is extensively tested by means of two nonlinear system identification examples.     

一种非平稳环境下的自适应变步长盲源分离算法

提出一种基于不完整自然梯度的变步长约束算法,用来处理非平稳环境下的瞬时盲源分离问题.该算法利用系统上的扰动对代价函数进行约束,对算法中的约束因子采用自适应形式,根据分离情况对约束因子进行自适应调整,以加快收敛速度.同时,引入基于代价函数梯度的变步长,使其具有更好的跟踪性能.仿真结果表明,在非平稳环境下,所提出的算法在提高收敛速度的同时可以有效分离源信号而不产生严重的稳态误差.     

情境感知和兴趣适应的农业信息推荐模型

个性化推荐是解决农户需求和农业信息服务契合度的关键技术。传统基于行为的推荐算法能挖掘农户兴趣但不能反映其兴趣的迁移,时间权重的引入较好地实现自适应机制。地域、时间以及农业生产门类等情境信息直接影响农户的兴趣偏好,已有算法却融入度不足。综合情境因素、浏览行为和兴趣改变等多维因素,设计情景感知和兴趣适应的农业信息推荐模型。实验结果显示,改进后的算法能显著提升推荐的准确率和有效性。     

Sliding mode control of wind-induced vibrations using fuzzy sliding surface and gain adaptation

Although fuzzy/adaptive sliding mode control can reduce the chattering problem in structural vibration control applications, they require the equivalent control and the upper bounds of the system uncertainties. In this paper, we used fuzzy logic to approximate the standard sliding surface and designed a dead-zone adaptive law for tuning the switching gain of the sliding mode control. The stability of the proposed controller is established using Lyapunov stability theory. A six-storey building prototype equipped with an active mass damper has been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller towards the wind-induced vibrations.     

基于Seam Carving的图像放大算法研究与改进

针对Seam Carving图像放大算法中,能量值前k小的像素带可能出现共用点的情况,提出了一种改进的图像放大自适应算法,通过判断图像中出现共用点的像素带的情况及计算其共用率的值,经过一定的策略确定待新增的像素带位置,该算法使得图像中视觉关注非重要信息区域像素带的增加能得到较均匀的分布;实现了人工干预选择视觉关注重要区域的方法,避免了自适应算法本身因误判视觉关注重要区域而带来关注对象发生变形扭曲的情况.实验证明,改进的算法能得到更好的放大效果.     

Ant colony optimization with dynamic parameter adaptation based on interval type-2 fuzzy logic systems

A dynamic parameter adaptation methodology for Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) based on interval type-2 fuzzy systems is presented in this paper. The idea is to be able to apply this new ACO method with parameter adaptation to a wide variety of problems without the need of finding the best parameters for each particular problem. We developed several fuzzy systems for parameter adaptation and a comparison was made among them to decide on the best design. The use of fuzzy logic is to control the diversity of the solutions, and in this way controlling the exploration and exploitation abilities of ACO. The travelling salesman problem (TSP) and the design of a fuzzy controller for an autonomous mobile robot are the benchmark problems used to test the proposed methodology.     

On a new adaptive sliding mode control for MIMO nonlinear systems with uncertainties of unknown bounds

This paper proposes a new approach of adaptive sliding mode controller designs for multiple‐input multiple‐output nonlinear systems with uncertainties of unknown bounds and limited available inputs. The goal is to obtain robust, smooth, and fast transient performance for real sliding mode control so that the phenomena of the slow response and the gain overestimation in most adaptive sliding mode controller designs can be greatly improved. We introduce an Integral/Exponential adaptation law with boundary‐layer targeting the reduction of the chatter levels of the sliding mode by significantly reducing the gain overestimation while simultaneously speeding up the system response to the uncertainties. The gain is further reduced when the system state is in the boundary layer. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the proposed design. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.