An agent-based hybrid intelligent system for financial investment planning

Many complex problems including financial investment planning require hybrid intelligent systems that integrate many intelligent techniques including expert systems, fuzzy logic, neural networks, and genetic algorithms. However, hybrid intelligent systems are difficult to develop due to complicated interactions and technique incompatibilities. This paper describes a hybrid intelligent system for financial investment planning that was built from agent points of view. This system currently consists of 13 different agents. The experimental results show that all agents in the system can work cooperatively to provide reasonable investment advice. The system is very flexible and robust. The success of the system indicates that agent technologies can significantly facilitate the construction of hybrid intelligent systems.

Modelling of porosity defects in high pressure die casting with a neural network

High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) is a complex process that results in casting defects if configured improperly. However, finding out the optimal configuration is a non-trivial task as eliminating one of the casting defects (for example, porosity) can result in occurrence of other casting defects. The industry generally tries to eliminate the defects by trial and error which is an expensive and error -prone process. This paper aims to improve current modelling and understanding of defects formation in HPDC machines. We have conducted conventional die casting tests with a neural network model of HPDC machine and compared the obtained results with the current understanding of formation of porosity. While most of our findings correspond well to established knowledge in the field, some of our findings are in conflict with the previous studies of die casting.

Issues in measuring the return of marketing investment in sporting club brands

This paper examines approaches to the measurement of brand value, and discusses their applicability to the various parties and branded products relevant to professional football clubs. It is concluded that the applicability of many of these measures of performance to sporting club brands is questionable. In order to provide an appropriate measure of the return on investment in brand loyalty to both the sporting club brand and sponsor-related products, the use of nonfinancial performance measures is critical. This paper suggests future research directions to enable greater consistency of the measurement of the return on marketing investment for sporting club brands.

Machine vision system for automatic inspection of surface defects in aluminium die casting

A machine vision system is presented for the automatic inspection of surface defects in aluminium die casting. The system uses a hybrid image processing algorithm based on mathematic morphology to detect defects with different sizes and shapes. The defect inspection algorithm consists of two parts. One is a parameter learning algorithm, in which a genetic algorithm is used to extract optimal structuring element parameters, and segmentation and noise removal thresholds. The second part is a defect detection algorithm, in which the parameters obtained by a genetic algorithm are used for morphological operations. The machine vision system has been applied in an industrial setting to detect two types of casting defects: parts mix-up and any defects on the surface of castings. The system performs with a 99% or higher accuracy for both part mix-up and defect detection and is currently used in industry as part of normal production.

Is privatisation good for investment in Australia?

Privatisation was expected to promote investment in the economy as part of improving dynamic efficiency. The relation between aggregate public and private investment in Australia is investigated in an endogeneous ECM framework. Model selection for a simple investment function allows restrictions for neoclassical crowding out or Keynesian crowding in (after Aschauer 1989) in a small open economy. An ECM is estimated including annual aggregate private investment, public investment, income, rate of return, average interest cost, exchange rate and inventories from 1960 to 2005. Public capital appears unresponsive to shocks and crowding out is not evident.

Defining ethical investment and its demography in Australia

While ethical investment is relatively new in Australia, it is a well defined phenomenon in the United States and United Kingdom, subject to variations in interpretation in its practical implementation. Characteristics of ethical investment decision-making suggest ethical investors may be demographically different from "ordinary" investors. This descriptive paper reports on a survey of equity investors in Australia, comparing the average investor and an ethical investor. The main findings are that there is evidence of a strong gender effect, with females predominating among ethical investors, and that these investors are relatively young, highly educated and possessing small portfolios.

Electronic commerce strategic investment justification frameworks : an Australian perspective

Strategic use of information technology, especially electronic commerce, has been used by organisations throughout the world in a vast array of industries to gain a competitive industry. With growing interest in electronic commerce organisations are now developing a new range of electronic commerce applications. However, justification in allocating organisation resources does not always follow the more commonly accepted methods. This paper explores why organizations invest in electronic commerce applications and highlights several approaches to justification. Central to the work was to determine the underlying benefits of investing in Web applications. This paper examines various models and frameworks that can be used as a form of justification. A conclusion of this paper is a framework for the justification of web-based applications by utilizing the Delphi methodology.

Cracking and blowout in an aluminium high-pressure die casting die

Die cracking and metal blowout have been identified as problems in production of the structural sump, a high pressure die cast aluminium part, at Ford's Geelong manufacturing plant. Visual inspection, thermography and strain measurements have been performed and results are consistent with the view that cracking and blowout are caused by excessive stresses and deflections, respectively, generated by bending of the sliding cores. Models are being developed for finite element simulation of the stresses and deflections in the die during production, with a view to eliminating the aforementioned problems.

Squeeze pin implementation in a high pressure die casting

This paper discusses the implementation of hydraulically operated squeeze pins to reduce porosity formation in cast aluminium bearing caps. Two complete sets are cast in an eight-cavity die with a 2000t cold chamber high pressure die casting machine. The initial die configuration used a sliding core assembly with stationary pins to core a through hole in a thick section of the front cam caps. This configuration resulted in high post machining scrap rates, primarily due to porosity associated with solidification shrinkage. Replacement of the sliding core assembly with a squeeze pin unit substantially reduced shrinkage porosity in the critical region, with consequent reductions in the scrap rate. The squeeze pins are actuated 1.5s after the piston reaches the high shot changeover position, but can be successfully engaged between I and 3.5 seconds after high shot changeover. Density measurements and visual inspection confirmed the substantial improvement in porosity levels in the critical region of the castings.