Abstract: This paper introduces our first efforts of developing a
new team for RoboCup Middle Size Competition. In our robots we
have applied omni directional based mobile system with omnidirectional
vision system and fuzzy control algorithm to navigate
robots. The control architecture of MRL middle-size robots is a three
layered architecture, Planning, Sequencing, and Executing. It also
uses Blackboard system to achieve coordination among agents.
Moreover, the architecture should have minimum dependency on low
level structure and have a uniform protocol to interact with real
robot.
Abstract: Cooperative visual modeling is more and more
necessary in our complicated world. A collaborative environment
which supports interactive operation and communication is required
to increase work efficiency. We present a collaborative visual
modeling framework which collaborative platform could be built on.
On this platform, cooperation and communication is available for
designers from different regions. This framework, which is different
from other collaborative frameworks, contains a uniform message
format, a message handling mechanism and other functions such as
message pretreatment and Role-Communication-Token Access
Control (RCTAC). We also show our implementation of this
framework called Orchestra Designer, which support BPLE
workflow modeling cooperatively online.
Abstract: A set of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based methods
for the design of an effective system of speech recognition of
numerals of Assamese language captured under varied recording
conditions and moods is presented here. The work is related to
the formulation of several ANN models configured to use Linear
Predictive Code (LPC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and
other features to tackle mood and gender variations uttering numbers
as part of an Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system in
Assamese. The ANN models are designed using a combination of
Self Organizing Map (SOM) and Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP)
constituting a Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) block trained in a
cooperative environment to handle male and female speech samples
of numerals of Assamese- a language spoken by a sizable population
in the North-Eastern part of India. The work provides a comparative
evaluation of several such combinations while subjected to handle
speech samples with gender based differences captured by a microphone
in four different conditions viz. noiseless, noise mixed, stressed
and stress-free.
Abstract: In this paper, the existence of 2n positive periodic solutions for n species non-autonomous Lotka-Volterra cooperative systems with harvesting terms is established by using Mawhin-s continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory and matrix inequality. An example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.
Abstract: Color image segmentation can be considered as a
cluster procedure in feature space. k-means and its adaptive
version, i.e. competitive learning approach are powerful tools
for data clustering. But k-means and competitive learning suffer
from several drawbacks such as dead-unit problem and need to
pre-specify number of cluster. In this paper, we will explore to
use competitive and cooperative learning approach to perform
color image segmentation. In competitive and cooperative
learning approach, seed points not only compete each other, but
also the winner will dynamically select several nearest
competitors to form a cooperative team to adapt to the input
together, finally it can automatically select the correct number
of cluster and avoid the dead-units problem. Experimental
results show that CCL can obtain better segmentation result.
Abstract: Neoclassical and functionalist explanations of self
organization in multiagent systems have been criticized on several accounts including unrealistic explication of overadapted agents and
failure to resolve problems of externality. The paper outlines a more
elaborate and dynamic model that is capable of resolving these dilemmas. An illustrative example where behavioral diversity is
cobred in a repeated nonzero sum task via evolutionary computing is
presented.
Abstract: Learning is the acquisition of new mental schemata, knowledge, abilities and skills which can be used to solve problems potentially more successfully. The learning process is optimum when it is assisted and personalized. Learning is not a single activity, but should involve many possible activities to make learning become meaningful. Many e-learning applications provide facilities to support teaching and learning activities. One way to identify whether the e-learning system is being used by the learners is through the number of hits that can be obtained from the e-learning system's log data. However, we cannot rely solely to the number of hits in order to determine whether learning had occurred meaningfully. This is due to the fact that meaningful learning should engage five characteristics namely active, constructive, intentional, authentic and cooperative. This paper aims to analyze the e-learning activities that is meaningful to learning. By focusing on the meaningful learning characteristics, we match it to the corresponding Moodle e-learning activities. This analysis discovers the activities that have high impact to meaningful learning, as well as activities that are less meaningful. The high impact activities is given high weights since it become important to meaningful learning, while the low impact has less weight and said to be supportive e-learning activities. The result of this analysis helps us categorize which e-learning activities that are meaningful to learning and guide us to measure the effectiveness of e-learning usage.
Abstract: This article first summarizes reasons why current approaches supporting Open Learning and Distance Education need to be complemented by tools permitting lecturers, researchers and students to cooperatively organize the semantic content of Learning related materials (courses, discussions, etc.) into a fine-grained shared semantic network. This first part of the article also quickly describes the approach adopted to permit such a collaborative work. Then, examples of such semantic networks are presented. Finally, an evaluation of the approach by students is provided and analyzed.
Abstract: Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have gained
tremendous attention in recent years due to their numerous
applications. Due to the limited energy resource, energy efficient
operation of sensor nodes is a key issue in wireless sensor networks.
Cooperative caching which ensures sharing of data among various
nodes reduces the number of communications over the wireless
channels and thus enhances the overall lifetime of a wireless sensor
network. In this paper, we propose a cooperative caching scheme
called ZCS (Zone Cooperation at Sensors) for wireless sensor
networks. In ZCS scheme, one-hop neighbors of a sensor node form a
cooperative cache zone and share the cached data with each other.
Simulation experiments show that the ZCS caching scheme achieves
significant improvements in byte hit ratio and average query latency
in comparison with other caching strategies.
Abstract: We consider a cooperative game played by n players against a referee. The players names are randomly distributed among n lockers, with one name per locker. Each player can open up to half the lockers and each player must find his name. Once the game starts the players may not communicate. It has been previously shown that, quite surprisingly, an optimal strategy exists for which the success probability is never worse than 1 − ln 2 ≈ 0.306. In this paper we consider an extension where the number of lockers is greater than the number of players, so that some lockers are empty. We show that the players may still win with positive probability even if there are a constant k number of empty lockers. We show that for each fixed probability p, there is a constant c so that the players can win with probability at least p if they are allowed to open cn lockers.
Abstract: The asymmetric trafc between uplink and downlink
over recent mobile communication systems has been conspicuous because
of providing new communication services. This paper proposes
an asymmetric trafc accommodation scheme adopting a multihop
cooperative transmission technique for CDMA/FDD cellular networks.
The proposed scheme employs the cooperative transmission
technique in the already proposed downlink multihop transmissions
for the accommodation of the asymmetric trafc, which utilizes
the vacant uplink band for the downlink relay transmissions. The
proposed scheme reduces the transmission power at the downlink
relay transmissions and then suppresses the interference to the uplink
communications, and thus, improves the uplink performance. The
proposed scheme is evaluated by computer simulation and the results
show that it can achieve better throughput performance.
Abstract: In this paper, a mathematical model for data object replication in ad hoc networks is formulated. The derived model is general, flexible and adaptable to cater for various applications in ad hoc networks. We propose a game theoretical technique in which players (mobile hosts) continuously compete in a non-cooperative environment to improve data accessibility by replicating data objects. The technique incorporates the access frequency from mobile hosts to each data object, the status of the network connectivity, and communication costs. The proposed technique is extensively evaluated against four well-known ad hoc network replica allocation methods. The experimental results reveal that the proposed approach outperforms the four techniques in both the execution time and solution quality
Abstract: Most agricultural crops cultivated in Brazil are highly
nutrient demanding. Brazilian soils are generally acidic with low base
saturation and available nutrients. Demand for fertilizer application
has increased because the national agricultural sector expansion. To
improve productivity without environmental impact, there is the need
for the utilization of novel procedures and techniques to optimize
fertilizer application. This includes the digital soil mapping and GIS
application applied to mapping in different scales. This paper is
based on research, realized during 2005 to 2010 by Brazilian
Corporation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA) and its partners.
The purpose was to map soil fertility in national and regional scales.
A soil profile data set in national scale (1:5,000,000) was constructed
from the soil archives of Embrapa Soils, Rio de Janeiro and in the
regional scale (1:250,000) from COMIGO Cooperative soil data set,
Rio Verde, Brazil. The mapping was doing using ArcGIS 9.1 tools
from ESRI.
Abstract: Like any sentient organism, a smart environment
relies first and foremost on sensory data captured from the real
world. The sensory data come from sensor nodes of different
modalities deployed on different locations forming a Wireless Sensor
Network (WSN). Embedding smart sensors in humans has been a
research challenge due to the limitations imposed by these sensors
from computational capabilities to limited power. In this paper, we
first propose a practical WSN application that will enable blind
people to see what their neighboring partners can see. The challenge
is that the actual mapping between the input images to brain pattern
is too complex and not well understood. We also study the
connectivity problem in 3D/2D wireless sensor networks and propose
distributed efficient algorithms to accomplish the required
connectivity of the system. We provide a new connectivity algorithm
CDCA to connect disconnected parts of a network using cooperative
diversity. Through simulations, we analyze the connectivity gains
and energy savings provided by this novel form of cooperative
diversity in WSNs.
Abstract: Software engineering education not only embraces
technical skills of software development but also necessitates
communication and interaction among learners. In this paper, it is
proposed to adapt the PBL methodology that is especially designed to
be integrated into software engineering classroom in order to promote
collaborative learning environment. This approach helps students
better understand the significance of social aspects and provides a
systematic framework to enhance teamwork skills. The adaptation of
PBL facilitates the transition to an innovative software development
environment where cooperative learning can be actualized.
Abstract: Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are multi-hop
wireless networks in which all nodes cooperatively maintain network
connectivity. In such a multi-hop wireless network, every node may
be required to perform routing in order to achieve end-to-end
communication among nodes. These networks are energy constrained
as most ad hoc mobile nodes today operate with limited battery
power. Hence, it is important to minimize the energy consumption of
the entire network in order to maximize the lifetime of ad hoc
networks. In this paper, a mechanism involving the integration of
load balancing approach and transmission power control approach is
introduced to maximize the life-span of MANETs. The mechanism is
applied on Ad hoc On-demand Vector (AODV) protocol to make it
as energy aware AODV (EA_AODV). The simulation is carried out
using GloMoSim2.03 simulator. The results show that the proposed
mechanism reduces the average required transmission energy per
packet compared to the standard AODV.
Abstract: In recent years, strategic alliances have taken
increasing importance as a means to control competitive forces and to
enter into new markets. Joint ventures are one of the most frequently
used contractual forms in strategic alliances. There are various
motivations for cooperation between two or more firms e.g.,
accessing to technical know-how, accessing to financial resources
and managing risks. The firms must know about these motivations to
encourage for establishing joint venture. So, it is important for
managers to understand about these motives. On the other hand, the
cooperation section is one of the most effective parts in each country.
In this way, our study identifies goals of joint venture between
cooperative manufacturing firms, and prioritizes those using
TOPSIS1. The results show that the most important of joint venture
goals are: accessing to managerial know-how, sharing total capital
investment.
Abstract: Through the analysis of the process digital design
based on digital mockup, the fact indicates that a distributed
cooperative supporting environment is the foundation conditions to
adopt design approach based on DMU. Data access authorization is
concerned firstly because the value and sensitivity of the data for the
enterprise. The access control for administrators is often rather weak
other than business user. So authors established an enhanced system to
avoid the administrators accessing the engineering data by potential
approach and without authorization. Thus the data security is
improved.
Abstract: This study analyzes characteristics determining
member’s willingness to invest in cooperatives using ordered logit
model. The data were collected in a field survey among 122
cooperative members in north-central China. The descriptive analysis
of survey evidence suggests that cooperatives in China generally
having poor ability to deliver the processing services related to
product package, grading, and storage, performing worse in
profitability, inability of providing returns to capital and obtaining
agricultural loan. The regression results demonstrate that members’
farm size, their satisfaction with cooperative price preferential
services, attitudes toward cooperative operational scale and
development potential have statistically significant impact on
willingness to invest.
Abstract: This paper discusses ways to foster cooperative learning through the integration of online communication technology. While the education experts believe constructivism produces a more positive learning experience, the educators are still facing problems in getting students to participate due to numerous reasons such as shy personality, language and cultural barriers. This paper will look into the factors that lead to lack of participations among students and how technology can be implemented to overcome these issues.