Major Software Tools Research Articles

Starting point selection approach for power system model validation using event playback

Model validation is an essential task to determine whether a model can accurately describe the actual behaviours of a power system. Currently, major commercial software tools are equipped with an ‘event playback’ function to validate dynamic models using testing data from phasor measurement units (PMUs). Due to their limited bandwidth and low sampling rates, PMUs cannot capture the fast-transient dynamics. As such, the playback function using the conventional approach may mistakenly invalidate an accurate model during the high-frequency responses. To overcome the deficiency, a batch state estimation approach is proposed in this study to improve the performance of the ‘event playback’ function by focusing on low-frequency responses in model validation. The proposed approach consists of three major steps. First, a multi-model adaptive Kalman filter approach is used to estimate the dynamic states of the system. Second, the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) is used to detect the fault clearance time. Finally, the estimated states after the fault are used as the initial states of the ‘event playback’ to validate the dynamic model during the low-frequency responses. The analytical basis of the proposed method is also provided by showing the existence and uniqueness of the trajectory of the underlying model. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated using the PSS/E.

An Agent-Based Computational Framework for Distributed Data Analysis

Major software tools for distributed-data analysis, such as MapReduce and Spark, examine data items on separate disks by streaming them into memory. We contrast data streaming against an agent-based approach that moves analyzing units through distributed data.

Cross-platform validation and analysis environment for particle physics

A multi-platform validation and analysis framework for public Monte Carlo simulation for high-energy particle collisions is discussed. The front-end of this framework uses the Python programming language, while the back-end is written in Java, which provides a multi-platform environment that can be run from a web browser and can easily be deployed at the grid sites. The analysis package includes all major software tools used in high-energy physics, such as Lorentz vectors, jet algorithms, histogram packages, graphic canvases, and tools for providing data access. This multi-platform software suite, designed to minimize OS-specific maintenance and deployment time, is used for online validation of Monte Carlo event samples through a web interface.

Software comparison for the analysis of cheese eyes in X-ray computed tomography

Cheese eyes in traditional Swiss-type cheese are an ‘eye-catcher’ and therefore a key factor for quality. In contrast to the widespread X-ray radiography, in the computed tomography (CT) system, the density difference between gas and the cheese body is imaged three-dimensionally. To quantify the eye volume and distribution in the cheese matrix, three major commercial software tools and a Python script were compared by measuring 12 cheeses with increasing numbers of cheese eyes. The number of cheese eyes was controlled by producing the 12 hard cheeses using an increasing number of plastic balls of 10 and 20 mm diameter. Although the agreement among the different software products was very high (correlation between void volume of the introduced balls and the calculated eye volume ranges between 0.9990 and 0.9999), the accessibility of different properties varies among the different software products, and systematic trends in accuracy could be identified.

Integrating AR services for the masses: geotagged POI transformation platform

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose the platform for effective transformation of points of interests (POIs) into augmented reality (AR), specifically into the three major software tools – Junaio, Layar and Wikitude. The objective is to facilitate the creation of POIs for common users of these programs and, thus, encourage the general public to participate in the formation of a new concept of applications using AR and location-based services. Design/methodology/approach The subject of this study was analysis of methods used for POI dynamisation under the context of location-based services. This paper suggests methodology based on database format transformation. It is focused on the creation of platform for automated geotagged POI transformation into AR. Findings The research results in prototype of online platform which is capable to automatically transform geotagged POI to three major AR applications. It discusses also the model implementation of this platform in Czech national tourist authority. Research limitations/implications The paper presents a proof-of-concept of dynamisation and transformation of an unspecified number of POIs stored in a simple table database and their transformation into the AR. Practical implications Services of AR are brought for the masses to effectively dynamise tourist information. Social implications Results could make the process of multimedialising data (POIs) more suitable for masses. Originality/value This paper presents a proof-of-concept of dynamisation and transformation of an unspecified number of POIs stored in a simple table database and their transfer into the three major AR applications.

Accessing the public MIMIC-II intensive care relational database for clinical research

BackgroundThe Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC-II) database is a free, public resource for intensive care research. The database was officially released in 2006, and has attracted a growing number of researchers in academia and industry. We present the two major software tools that facilitate accessing the relational database: the web-based QueryBuilder and a downloadable virtual machine (VM) image.ResultsQueryBuilder and the MIMIC-II VM have been developed successfully and are freely available to MIMIC-II users. Simple example SQL queries and the resulting data are presented. Clinical studies pertaining to acute kidney injury and prediction of fluid requirements in the intensive care unit are shown as typical examples of research performed with MIMIC-II. In addition, MIMIC-II has also provided data for annual PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenges, including the 2012 Challenge “Predicting mortality of ICU Patients”.ConclusionsQueryBuilder is a web-based tool that provides easy access to MIMIC-II. For more computationally intensive queries, one can locally install a complete copy of MIMIC-II in a VM. Both publicly available tools provide the MIMIC-II research community with convenient querying interfaces and complement the value of the MIMIC-II relational database.

Systems immunology: a survey of modeling formalisms, applications and simulation tools

Immunological studies frequently analyze individual components (e.g., signaling pathways) of immune systems in a reductionist manner. In contrast, systems immunology aims to give a synthetic understanding of how these components function together as a whole. While immunological research involves in vivo and in vitro experiments, systems immunology research can also be conducted in silico. With an increasing interest in systems-level studies spawned by high-throughput technologies, many immunologists are looking forward to insights provided by computational modeling and simulation. However, modeling and simulation research has mainly been conducted in computational fields, and therefore, little material is available or accessible to immunologists today. This survey is an attempt at bridging the gap between immunologists and systems immunology modeling and simulation. Modeling and simulation refer to building and executing an in silico replica of an immune system. Models are specified within a mathematical or algorithmic framework called formalism and then implemented using software tools. A plethora of modeling formalisms and software tools are reported in the literature for systems immunology. However, it is difficult for a new entrant to the field to know which of these would be suitable for modeling an immunological application at hand. This paper covers three aspects. First, it introduces the field of system immunology emphasizing on the modeling and simulation components. Second, it gives an overview of the principal modeling formalisms, each of which is illustrated with salient applications in immunological research. This overview of formalisms and applications is conducted not only to illustrate their power but also to serve as a reference to assist immunologists in choosing the best formalism for the problem at hand. Third, it lists major software tools, which can be used to practically implement models in these formalisms. Combined, these aspects can help immunologists to start experimenting with in silico models. Finally, future research directions are discussed. Particularly, we identify integrative frameworks to facilitate the coupling of different modeling formalisms and modeling the adaptation properties through evolution of immune systems as the next key research efforts necessary to further develop the multidisciplinary field of systems immunology.

Software tools overview: process integration, modelling and optimisation for energy saving and pollution reduction

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of software tools based on long experience and applications in the area of process integration, modelling and optimisation. The first part reviews the current design practice and the development of supporting software tools. Those are categorised as: (1) process integration and retrofit analysis tools, (2) general mathematical modelling suites with optimisation libraries, (3) flowsheeting simulation and (4) graph‐based process optimisation tools. The second part covers an assessment of tools which enable the generation of new sustainable alternatives to adapt to the future needs. They deal with waste, environment, energy consumption, resources depletion and production cost constrains. The emphasis of the sustainable process design tools is largely on the evaluation of process viability under sustainable economic conditions, synthesis of sustainable process and supply chain process maintenance and life cycle analysis. Major software tools development and the potential of the research‐based tools for sustainable process design task are overviewed in the concluding part. Copyright © 2010 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Data mining in business services

Data mining applies traditional statistical tools as well as artificial intelligence algorithms to the analysis of large datasets. Data mining has proven very effective in many fields, including business. This paper reviews applications of data mining relevant to the service industry, and demonstrates primary business functions and data mining methods. Typical industry data mining process is described, analytic tools are reviewed, and major software tools noted.

The Online Bioinformatics Resources Collection at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System--a one-stop gateway to online bioinformatics databases and software tools

To bridge the gap between the rising information needs of biological and medical researchers and the rapidly growing number of online bioinformatics resources, we have created the Online Bioinformatics Resources Collection (OBRC) at the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh. The OBRC, containing 1542 major online bioinformatics databases and software tools, was constructed using the HSLS content management system built on the Zope® Web application server. To enhance the output of search results, we further implemented the Vivísimo Clustering Engine®, which automatically organizes the search results into categories created dynamically based on the textual information of the retrieved records. As the largest online collection of its kind and the only one with advanced search results clustering, OBRC is aimed at becoming a one-stop guided information gateway to the major bioinformatics databases and software tools on the Web. OBRC is available at the University of Pittsburgh's HSLS Web site ().

Signal processing hardware and software

The explosive growth of digital signal processing techniques has given way to a myriad of high performance DSP devices and tools for today's hardware designer and software specialist. The charts and tables presented reflect up-to-date information on the most widely used programmable DSP chips, DSP board products, major software tools in wide use, types of commercial A-D converters, advanced A-D converters in research, available FIR filters (standard and weighted), IC frequency synthesizers, and integrated FFT chipsets.