Cooperative Capabilities Research Articles

PROBLEMS OF COOPERATIVE INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (ITS) IMPLEMENTATION IN EUROPEAN UNION

The paper presents implementation problems of Co-opeartive Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in Member States of European Union. ITS means systems in which information and communication technologies are applied in the field of road transport, including infrastructure, vehicles and users, and in traffic management and mobility management, as well as for interfaces with other modes of transport. Interoperability of ITS is the capacity of systems and the underlying business processes to exchange data and to share information and knowledge. ITS application means an operational instrument for the application of ITS. ITS service is the provision of an ITS application through a well-defined organisational and operational framework with the aim of contributing to the user safety, efficiency, comfort and/or to facilitate or support transport and travel operations. According to the European Commission the autonomous intelligent transport systems implemented in Member States of European Union are not interoperable due to some reasons, for instance discrepancies in the interpretation of laws, technology standards (specifications), especially lack of cooperation capability. European Commission has taken steps in mentioned issue (directive 2010/40/EU, mandate M/453, decision 2011/453/EU). The author has presented synthetically problems in mentioned area and determined resolutions of them on level of European Union and Poland. Furthermore the main results of research projects: The National Automatic Toll Collection System (NATCS) and Methodic of eCall automatically informing system of traffic accidents developed by Motor Transport Institute.

Toward Computational, Embeddable, Cognitive Models of Context

Computational models of context that are compatible with human cognitive representations could be used to augment human decision-making and to enable improved interactive and cooperative capabilities of non-human agents. If unconstrained by human cognitive limitations and biases, such cognitively-inspired models of context could also scale to problem scales and time scales that exceed human capabilities. Expanding on a recently developed theoretical model for context called the Narratively Integrate Multi-level (NIM) framework, this paper presents computational details that operationalize the concepts in the NIM framework and define a set of tools that can be used to design and build human-like models of context and embed them into larger computational systems.

Enhancing Security Gaps in Smart Grid Communication

In order to develop smart grid communications infrastructure, a high level of interconnectivity and reliability among its nodes is required. Sensors, advanced metering devices, electrical appliances, and monitoring devices, just to mention a few, will be highly interconnected allowing for the seamless flow of data. Reliability and security in this flow of data between nodes is crucial due to the low latency and cyber-attacks resilience requirements of the Smart Grid. In particular, Artificial Intelligence techniques such as Fuzzy Logic, Bayesian Inference, Neural Networks, and other methods can be employed to enhance the security gaps in conventional IDSs. A distributed FPGA-based network with adaptive and cooperative capabilities can be used to study several security and communication aspects of the smart grid infrastructure both from the attackers and defensive point of view. In this paper, the vital issue of security in the smart grid is discussed, along with a possible approach to achieve this by employing FPGA based Radial Basis Function (RBF) network intrusion.

Discussion of “Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams with TRC Tension Zone Cover” by Shiping Yin, Shilang Xu, and Henglin Lv

Based on four-point flexural tests conducted on textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) beams, the discussed paper presents an interesting experimental study on the influences of the layers of textile, the surface treatment of textile, and mixing short fibers into fine-grain concrete on the mechanical performance and crack pattern of the beams with a TRC tension zone cover. The authors should be complimented for providing a detailed paper, which reports valuable findings of interest. The discusser would like to thank the authors for this and to also offer some comments and questions for their consideration and response, mainly about aspects related with the experimental results and discussion, such as the crack form of specimens and the load-maximum crack width curves. The authors detail that, during the entire testing process, no visible cracks are observed at the interface between the textile and the fine-grain concrete, and between the concrete and the fine-grain concrete, and that there are at least two or three much smaller cracks on the fine-grain concrete layer below the concrete cracks because textiles play their fiber-bridge role by allowing cracks to be distributed uniformly throughout the tensile zone. The discusser is confused about these apparent contradictory descriptions. Perhaps the authors refer to longitudinal cracks for the former and to flexural cracks for the latter. Can the authors provide confirmation or an explanation about this to offer a better understanding? Regarding the load-maximum crack width relationship, Fig. 5 shows experimental curves in a comparative manner. From Figs. 5(a and b), the authors state that adhering sand on the textile surface helps reduce the maximum crack width. However, in the discusser’s opinion, despite the intention of these figures to depict the influence of surface treatment of textile, it seems there are no significant differences among the four curves for the one layer textile case [Fig. 5(a)], their final points being 60 kN load and 0.7–0.8 mm maximum crack width. In fact, for a similar comparison, as depicted in Fig. 5(c), which includes three curves to analyze the influence of polypropylene fiber and U-shaped hooks, the authors detail that the use of U-shaped hooks has no visible effect on the control of crack width, with the final points of curves being 70 kN load and 0.8–1.0 mm maximum crack width. Furthermore, one can observe differences in the three curves for the two layers textile case [Fig. 5(b)] as their final points range from loads of 65 to 75 kN and from 0.6 to 1.2 mm maximum crack width. Moreover from Figs. 5(a and c), the authors observe that if the same load is carried in the service stage, adding polypropylene fiber to fine-grain concrete can lead to a small maximum crack, crack spacing can reduce and the cooperative load-bearing capability of the textile and the fine-grain concrete can improve. Once again, in the discusser’s opinion, it seems there are no significant differences between the cases with and without polypropylene fibers depicted in Figs. 5(a and c). Despite the different scales used in Fig. 5, one can observe that, except for Fig. 5(d), there are no differences in the initial cracking points, the service stage points (about 30–35 kN load and 0.1–0.2 mm maximum crack width), the yielding points (about 50–60 kN load and 0.2–0.3 mm maximum crack width), and the ultimate points (in the terms explained in the precedent paragraph). Furthermore, crack width is important in service, whereas it seems the authors focus some analyses on the ultimate points, and values of crack width in service are not reported in Table 4. Certainly, crack distribution is also of interest, and the discusser suggests including complementary details on crack spacing and height for the service stage in order to check for any improvements in crack patterns. As observed in Fig. 5(d), when carrying the same load, the crack width of the TRC beams is much narrower than that of the control beam (beam 2). Nevertheless, beam 2 presents a maximum crack width of 1.4–1.5 mm at the ultimate point in Fig. 5(d), whereas 1.2 mm is reported in Table 4 at yielding instead of 0.4 mm. Apart from this inconsistency, a remarkable difference in the crack width at yielding between beams 1 (0.8 mm) and 2 (1.2 mm) is observed. Can the authors confirm the correct data? If this corresponds to variability in the materials properties and/or tested phenomena, the discusser believes that additional determinations with the TRC beams should be made.

Complication and mortality rate after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy are low and indication-dependent*

Objective. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is often used for the feeding of patients with malnutrition due to dysphagia, and despite more than 30 years experience, numerous questions on its benefit remain. This was a prospective observational study to assess the safety of PEG. Material and methods. One hundred and nineteen patients mean age 63 years (21–91 years) who were admitted to the Hannover Medical School between November 2010 and March 2012 and had an indication for PEG according to the German guidelines were included. Primary endpoints were the following: reason for indication, date of in-hospital mortality after PEG insertion, death within 3 months after PEG placement, and complications. Results. Most patients (54.6%) received PEG for dysphagia caused by tumors and second (29.4%) for neurologic diseases with a minor proportion of dementia (3%). About 73% of our patients had no complications at all and only 10% suffered severe effects. We saw only 1 case of aspiration, which did not lead to pneumonia. The 30-day mortality was 10%, and no patient died as a result of the PEG procedure. Significantly more patients with neurologic disorders died within 24 weeks of PEG placement than tumor patients (60% versus 27.7%, respectively, p = 0.002, n = 100). Conclusion. It is important to select patients receiving PEG very carefully. The patients’ indications, their primary disease, and their capability for mental cooperation are essential. If these aspects are taken into account, PEG is a safe method with few mainly mild complications.

Governança tecnológica e cooperabilidade nas multinacionais brasileiras

A capacidade dinâmica de inovar e cooperar e a gestão dos seus atributos de dispersão e interação são fatores essenciais à sobrevivência e ao êxito para as empresas emergentes originadas dos países em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil. Diante desse contexto, tem-se o objetivo de avaliar em que medida a governança tecnológica afeta a capacidade dinâmica de inovação e cooperação (cooperabilidade) nas multinacionais brasileiras (MNB). Para alcançar esse objetivo, a pesquisa de campo foi realizada em duas etapas, a primeira, qualitativa, e a segunda, quantitativa. Com base nos resultados da etapa qualitativa, foram revisadas as variáveis do modelo de pesquisa e refinadas as suas hipóteses, cujo teste ocorreu na etapa quantitativa. Na etapa qualitativa, o método utilizado foi o estudo de casos múltiplos, dado que foram realizados três estudos em profundidade: Oxiteno, Braskem e Petrobras. Já na etapa quantitativa, realizou-se um levantamento no universo de MNB, em que uma amostra definitiva de 60 empresas respondeu a um questionário estruturado.

Identifying international research cooperation capabilities in information and communication technologies

This paper presents a methodological approach to the identification of potential priority areas to support the creation of policies for research cooperation. The analysis of national research capabilities is an important prerequisite in the development of research policies, in particular for developing strategies for international collaboration. In the past, the identification of a country’s research capabilities was often based on only a few indicators. Here a methodology is presented that takes a broad view of a country’s research and technology base and applies it to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The methodology for the identification of research capabilities is based on a multi-dimensional approach that takes into account existing information and communication technologies research and technology development groups based on their size and quality, the interests of the researchers based on interviews and national industry characteristics to identify the economic collaboration potential in thematic areas.

Multi-Agent Recognition System based on Object Based Image Analysis Using WorldView-2

In this paper, using spatial and spectral characteristics of the WorldView-2 satellite imagery, capabilities of multi-agent systems are used for solving multiple object recognition difficulties in complex urban areas. The methodology has two main steps: object based image analysis (OBIA) and multiagent object recognition. In the first step, segmentation and multi-process object classification based on spectral, textural, and structural features are performed. Classified regions are used as an input dataset in the multi-agent system in order to modify object recognition results. According to the results from the object based image analysis process, using contextual relations and structural features, the overall accuracy and Kappa improved by 17.79 percent and 0.253, respectively. Using knowledge-based reasoning and cooperative capabilities of agents in the multi-agent system in this paper, most of the remaining difficulties are decreased and values 90.95 percent and 0.876 are obtained for the overall accuracy and Kappa, respectively, of the object recognition results.

Google Glass: On the implications of an advanced military command and control system for civil society.

In the early 1990ies, the U.S. Army presented the first experimental units of a future soldier’s equipment, featuring a soldier with a networked video camera, various sensors, and connecting the system to the world wide military command and control network. In June, 2012, Google unveiled its prototype Google Glass, a device capable of video and audio capturing with additional augmented reality functions. In this article, a comparison between those military and civilian augmented reality systems and typical application settings will be used to ask for the implications of this kind of technology for the civil society. It will especially be focused on the consequences for civil safety, when the full range of cooperation capabilities available with Google Glass-like devices will be employed by organized groups of criminals or terrorists. In conclusion, it will be argued to assess the implications of this technology and prepare for a new degree of coordination in the activities of groups in the civilian space.

Evolving small-cell communications towards mobile-over-FTTx networks

Small cell techniques are recognized as the best way to deliver high capacity for broadband cellular communications. Femtocell and distributed antenna systems (DASs) are important components in the overall small cell story, but are not the complete solution. They have major disadvantages of very limited cooperation capability and expensive deployment cost, respectively. In this article, we propose a novel mobile-over-FTTx (MoF) network architecture, where an FTTx network is enhanced as an integrated rather than a simple backhauling component of a new mobile network delivering low-cost and powerful small cell solutions. In part, the MoF architecture combines the advantages of femtocells and DASs, while overcoming their disadvantages. Implementation challenges and potential solutions are discussed. Simulation results are presented and demonstrate the strong potential of the MoF in boosting the capacity of mobile networks.

Design of a holonic remote monitoring and diagnosis system for fleet management

The main challenges in sensor network based monitoring systems are the control and management of complex modules and elements interacting among them and with the environment. This work presents and validates a design model for monitoring and diagnosis systems based on sensor networks exploiting potentialities of the holonic approach. The holonic structure is designed with the final goal to guarantee the performances and the functionalities required by the application scenario of road and work vehicles rental companies. Actually they are interacting and geographically distributed systems. The capabilities of cooperation among modules, hierarchical organization, modularity and reliability of holonic design are exploited. Diagnosis of monitored events is coded and validated through an ad hoc ontology. The design does not give assumption on the physical architecture of holons but only on their capacities/properties, therefore it can be reused in different physical and hardware resources. The case studies confirm the capability of our design to be quickly transferred to programmers and coded in firmware and software.

Object oriented image analysis based on multi-agent recognition system

In this paper, the capabilities of multi-agent systems are used in order to solve object recognition difficulties in complex urban areas based on the characteristics of WorldView-2 satellite imagery and digital surface model (DSM). The proposed methodology has three main steps: pre-processing of dataset, object based image analysis and multi-agent object recognition. Classified regions obtained from object based image analysis are used as input datasets in the proposed multi-agent system in order to modify/improve results. In the first operational level of the proposed multi-agent system, various kinds of object recognition agents modify initial classified regions based on their spectral, textural and 3D structural knowledge. Then, in the second operational level, 2D structural knowledge and contextual relations are used by agents for reasoning and modification. Evaluation of the capabilities of the proposed object recognition methodology is performed on WorldView-2 imagery over Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) which has been collected in January 2010. According to the obtained results of the object based image analysis process, contextual relations and structural descriptors have high potential to modify general difficulties of object recognition. Using knowledge based reasoning and cooperative capabilities of agents in the proposed multi-agent system in this paper, most of the remaining difficulties are decreased and the accuracy of object based image analysis results is improved for about three percent.

A lunar L2-Farside exploration and science mission concept with the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and a teleoperated lander/rover

A novel concept is presented in this paper for a human mission to the lunar L2 (Lagrange) point that would be a proving ground for future exploration missions to deep space while also overseeing scientifically important investigations. In an L2 halo orbit above the lunar farside, the astronauts aboard the Orion Crew Vehicle would travel 15% farther from Earth than did the Apollo astronauts and spend almost three times longer in deep space. Such a mission would serve as a first step beyond low Earth orbit and prove out operational spaceflight capabilities such as life support, communication, high speed re-entry, and radiation protection prior to more difficult human exploration missions. On this proposed mission, the crew would teleoperate landers/rovers on the unexplored lunar farside, which would obtain samples from the geologically interesting farside and deploy a low radio frequency telescope. Sampling the South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the oldest impact basins in the solar system, is a key science objective of the 2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Observations at low radio frequencies to track the effects of the Universe’s first stars/galaxies on the intergalactic medium are a priority of the 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Such telerobotic oversight would also demonstrate capability for human and robotic cooperation on future, more complex deep space missions such as exploring Mars.

Legionnaires’ disease from a cooling tower in a community outbreak in Lidköping, Sweden- epidemiological, environmental and microbiological investigation supported by meteorological modelling

BackgroundAn outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease took place in the Swedish town Lidköping on Lake Vänern in August 2004 and the number of pneumonia cases at the local hospital increased markedly. As soon as the first patients were diagnosed, health care providers were informed and an outbreak investigation was launched.MethodsClassical epidemiological investigation, diagnostic tests, environmental analyses, epidemiological typing and meteorological methods.ResultsThirty-two cases were found. The median age was 62 years (range 36 – 88) and 22 (69%) were males. No common indoor exposure was found. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was found at two industries, each with two cooling towers. In one cooling tower exceptionally high concentrations, 1.2 × 109 cfu/L, were found. Smaller amounts were also found in the other tower of the first industry and in one tower of the second plant. Sero- and genotyping of isolated L. pneumophila serogroup 1 from three patients and epidemiologically suspected environmental strains supported the cooling tower with the high concentration as the source. In all, two L. pneumophila strains were isolated from three culture confirmed cases and both these strains were detected in the cooling tower, but one strain in another cooling tower as well. Meteorological modelling demonstrated probable spread from the most suspected cooling tower towards the town centre and the precise location of four cases that were stray visitors to Lidköping.ConclusionsClassical epidemiological, environmental and microbiological investigation of an LD outbreak can be supported by meteorological modelling methods.The broad competence and cooperation capabilities in the investigation team from different authorities were of paramount importance in stopping this outbreak.

Technological Capabilities and Patterns of Innovative Cooperation of Firms in the UK Regions

Iammarino S., Piva M., Vivarelli M. and von Tunzelmann N. Technological capabilities and patterns of innovative cooperation of firms in the UK regions, Regional Studies. This paper focuses on the relationship between firms' technological capabilities and different forms of cooperation for innovation, paying specific attention to the role of regional location of the firm. The findings, based on the Fourth UK Community Innovation Survey (CIS4), show that cooperation within business groups, vertical cooperation with customers and suppliers, and horizontal cooperation with universities turn out to be significantly associated with firms' technological capabilities. However, it is found that the analysis for the UK as a whole masks stark regional differences in terms of the relationship between local and non-local collaborative linkages and firms' technological capabilities and competences. Iammarino S., Piva M., Vivarelli M. and von Tunzelmann N. 英国区域中企业创新合作的技术能力与模式，区域研究。本论文聚焦企业技术能力以及追求创新的不同合作形态之间的关联性，并特别关注企业区域区位的作用。根据英国第四区域创新调查(CIS4)的研究发现，商业团体内部的合作、客户与供货商的垂直合作、以及与大学之间的水平合作，证明与企业的技术能力有着显著的关联性。但研究也发现，将英国视为分析的整体，掩盖了地方和非地方合作关系、以及企业技术能力和胜任性之间存在的显著区域差异。 创新合作 技术能力 区域创新调查(CIS) 英国区域 Iammarino S., Piva M., Vivarelli M. et von Tunzelmann N. Les capacités technologiques et la structure des projets de coopération de nature novatrice des entreprises situées dans les régions du Royaume-Uni, Regional Studies. Cet article porte sur le rapport entre les capacités technologiques des entreprises et diverses formes de coopération de nature novatrice, prêtant une attention particulière au rôle de la localisation régionale de l'entreprise. Les résultats, basés sur la quatrième enquête communautaire sur l'innovation (ECI 4) montrent que la coopération au sein des groupes d'entreprises, la coopération verticale avec les clients et les fournisseurs, et la coopération horizontale avec les universités s'avèrent en corrélation étroite avec les capacités technologiques des entreprises. Cependant, il s'avère aussi que l'analyse du Royaume–Uni dans son ensemble apporte des différences régionales frappantes en termes du rapport entre les liens de collaboration locaux et non locaux et les capacités et les compétences technologiques des entreprises. Coopération de nature novatrice Capacités technologiques Enquête communautaire sur l'innovation (ECI) Régions du Royaume-Uni Iammarino S., Piva M., Vivarelli M. und von Tunzelmann N. Technische Fähigkeiten und Muster der innovativen Zusammenarbeit von Firmen in britischen Regionen, Regional Studies. Im Mittelpunkt dieses Beitrags steht die Beziehung zwischen den technischen Fähigkeiten von Firmen und den verschiedenen Formen der Zusammenarbeit zur Innovation unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Rolle des regionalen Standorts der Firma. Aus den Ergebnissen, die auf dem vierten Community Innovation Survey (CIS4) in Großbritannien beruhen, geht hervor, dass eine Zusammenarbeit innerhalb von Unternehmensgruppen, eine vertikale Zusammenarbeit mit Kunden und Lieferanten sowie eine horizontale Zusammenarbeit mit Universitäten in signifikantem Ausmaß mit den technischen Fähigkeiten der Firmen zusammenhängen. Allerdings stellen wir fest, dass die Analyse von Großbritannien als Ganzem starke regionale Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Beziehung zwischen lokalen und nicht-lokalen kooperativen Verbindungen und den technischen Fähigkeiten und Kompetenzen der Firmen verdeckt. Innovative Zusammenarbeit Technische Fähigkeiten Community Innovation Survey (CIS) Britische Regionen Iammarino S., Piva M., Vivarelli M. y von Tunzelmann N. Capacidades y modelos tecnológicos de la cooperación innovadora de empresas en las regiones británicas, Regional Studies. En este artículo analizamos la relación entre las capacidades tecnológicas de las empresas y las diferentes formas de cooperación para la innovación, prestando atención especial al papel de la ubicación regional de las empresas. Los resultados, basados en la cuarta encuesta comunitaria sobre innovación (CIS4) en el Reino Unido, indican que la cooperación entre los grupos comerciales, la cooperación vertical con clientes y proveedores, y la cooperación horizontal con las universidades están relacionadas en gran medida con las capacidades tecnológicas de las empresas. Sin embargo, observamos que el análisis para el Reino Unido en su conjunto oculta fuertes diferencias regionales en lo que se refiere a la relación entre los vínculos colaboradores locales y no locales y las capacidades y competencias tecnológicas de las empresas. Cooperación innovadora Capacidades tecnológicas Encuesta comunitaria sobre innovación Regiones británicas

Reconfiguración Dinámica de Sistemas Distribuidos en Tiempo-Real Basada en Agentes

Currently distributed systems are present in several applications in industry and research, such systems are restricted to time conditions. The presence of failures in these time critical systems requires decision making to avoid loss of deadlines, performance, instability or total suspension of the system. A strategy for achieving this is the dynamic reconfiguration of the structure of the system aimed at counteracting the effect of such failures. This article presents a proposal for dynamic and distributed reconfiguration considering each element of the distributed system as an agent with communication and cooperation capabilities to act joint with other agents to generate a reconfiguration action. These actions are the modification of sampling periods of sensors agents, decreased activity of the agents with fails and/or use of voting algorithms. For each type of system failure correspond a particular type of reconfiguration which is reached based on exchange of information between agents and the agreement they reached. The proposed dynamic reconfiguration scheme is implemented in the flight control of a prototype helicopter with two propellers through the inclusion in the closed loop control of a distributed system that uses a common communication media. The results of the reconfigured system response are obtained through numerical simulations carried out using Matlab and Simulink, as Real- Time simulation tool was used TrueTime.

Mean-field cooperativity in chemical kinetics

We consider cooperative reactions and we study the effects of the interaction strength among the system components on the reaction rate, hence realizing a connection between microscopic and macroscopic observables. Our approach is based on statistical mechanics models and it is developed analytically via mean-field techniques. First of all, we show that, when the coupling strength is set positive, the model is able to consistently recover all the various cooperative measures previously introduced, hence obtaining a single unifying framework. Furthermore, we introduce a criterion to discriminate between weak and strong cooperativity, based on a measure of "susceptibility". We also properly extend the model in order to account for multiple attachments phenomena: this is realized by incorporating within the model $p$-body interactions, whose non-trivial cooperative capability is investigated too.

“Cooperative Capabilities” of Small Businesses in the Joint Technical Development between Large Firms and Small Businesses

“Cooperative Capabilities” of Small Businesses in the Joint Technical Development between Large Firms and Small Businesses

The role of transport corridors in Timan-North Ural Region mineral-raw-material base Development

The development of mineral-raw-material base on underdeveloped territories of the Urals North and Timan is determined by the capabilities of inter-regional cooperation on the basis of the new transport corridors creation. The failure of the «Industrial Ural — Polar Ural» project substantially defined the attitude to the mineral-raw material base of the Ural North; but the actual analysis of the project failure causes does not allow to blame the mineral-raw-material base in that fact. This paper considers the prospects of Timan — North Ural region mineral-raw-material base development and the existing problems of nowadays, The question of revaluation necessity as of the regions existing mineral resource base, as well as the possible variants of its transport development is raised.

Platform Strategy: An Empirical Study on the Determinants of Platform Selection of Application Developers

This paper is to prove empirically that the cooperative business structure and conflict control capability of a platform leader and that the complementarity of a platform will have positive impacts on whether complementors select specific platforms in 245 platform selection examples of 99 application developers. Past research has not been sufficient regarding platform selection, but has been similar to other research on ERP platforms. Therefore, it is very meaningful to make an empirical study on the platform selection of complementors, which has not yet been performed. As a result, it is important for platform leaders to establish their own cooperative business structures and secure the complementarity of their platforms. Therefore, platform leaders should create more transaction opportunities by helping complementors to develop more complements and making business ecosystems grow more and more.