Selecting a multi-agent system development tool for industrial applications: A case study of self-serving aircraft assets

Industrialists have few example processes they can benchmark against in order to choose a multi-agent development kit. In this paper we present a review of commercial and academic agent tools with the aim of selecting one for developing an intelligent, self-serving asset architecture. In doing so, we map and enhance relevant assessment criteria found in literature. After a preliminary review of 20 multiagent platforms, we examine in further detail those of JADE, JACK and Cougaar. Our findings indicate that Cougaar is well suited for our requirements, showing excellent support for criteria such as scalability, persistence, mobility and lightweightness. © 2010 IEEE.

Modification of the trapped field in bulk high-temperature superconductors as a result of the drilling of a pattern of artificial columnar holes

The trapped magnetic field is examined in bulk high-temperature superconductors that are artificially drilled along their c-axis. The influence of the hole pattern on the magnetization is studied and compared by means of numerical models and Hall probe mapping techniques. To this aim, we consider two bulk YBCO samples with a rectangular cross-section that are drilled each by six holes arranged either on a rectangular lattice (sample I) or on a centered rectangular lattice (sample II). For the numerical analysis, three different models are considered for calculating the trapped flux: (i), a two-dimensional (2D) Bean model neglecting demagnetizing effects and flux creep, (ii), a 2D finite-element model neglecting demagnetizing effects but incorporating magnetic relaxation in the form of an E-J power law, and, (iii), a 3D finite element analysis that takes into account both the finite height of the sample and flux creep effects. For the experimental analysis, the trapped magnetic flux density is measured above the sample surface by Hall probe mapping performed before and after the drilling process. The maximum trapped flux density in the drilled samples is found to be smaller than that in the plain samples. The smallest magnetization drop is found for sample II, with the centered rectangular lattice. This result is confirmed by the numerical models. In each sample, the relative drops that are calculated independently with the three different models are in good agreement. As observed experimentally, the magnetization drop calculated in the sample II is the smallest one and its relative value is comparable to the measured one. By contrast, the measured magnetization drop in sample (1) is much larger than that predicted by the simulations, most likely because of a change of the microstructure during the drilling process.

Vortex migration caused by travelling magnetic wave in a 2 in. diameter YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin film

We provide experimental evidence for a vortex migration phenomenon in YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin film caused by travelling magnetic wave. The experiment is carried out on a 2 in. diameter YBCO thin film with a circular-type magnetic flux pump. We found that the travelling wave helps the vortices migrate into the centre of the sample: after the zero-field cooling process, the increase of the flux density in the centre is four times larger than the amplitude of the travelling wave. The reason for this massive vortex migration is probably due to the magnetic stress variation caused by the travelling wave: the magnetic stress increases locally in the crest region while decreases locally in the trough region, which could help the vortices to move locally. A comparison shows that the magnetization by standing wave can be easily predicted by Bean's model while travelling wave causes vortex migration generally much larger than the prediction of Bean's model. It is possible that travelling magnetic wave can be an effective way to magnetize a type II superconductor in considering this unusual vortex dynamics. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

支持EJB动态分布的组件迁移模型与算法

Web应用服务器是Web计算环境下的新型中间件，为基于组件的分布式Web应用提供了基础运行平台．组件静态分布限制了事务性Web应用在运行期间适应执行环境变化的能力．为了满足Web应用的动态分布需求，Web应用服务器需在底层为组件提供一种动态迁移的能力．如何维持组件迁移前后的一致性是组件迁移中最棘手的问题之一．为解决此问题，定义了组件迁移一致性约束CMC(component migration constrains)，并给出了在 J2EE(Java 2 platform enterprise edition)应用服务器中支持EJB(enterprise Java Bean)动态分布的组件迁移模型和 sLB_Copy,SFB_Copy,EB-Copy 3个迁移算法．分析得出sLB_Copy,SFB_copy和EB_copy均满足CMC约束．迁移模型和算法已在自主研制的Web应用服务器WebFrame2．0中实现，并已应用到自适应负载平衡、失效恢复等多个方面．

基于InCoME的软件成本估算方法及支撑工具

软件成本估算领域经过四十余年的发展，涌现出一大批估算理论与方法，但都没有在现实环境中的软件企业中得到广泛应用，在项目早期进行软件成本估算仍旧是一件非常难的任务。由于估算模型的复杂性，缺乏相关的自动化的支撑工具及在现实软件企业中进行成本估算的应用研究是造成这一局面的一个重要原因。 本文从解决现实估算问题出发，提出了基于支撑工具的软件成本估算应用的具体框架。使用专家知识初始化模型，收集历史数据进行模型校准，并使用jack-knife交叉验证对模型进行精度分析。在建立可接受的模型后，收集待估算项目规模和成本因子数据，基于集成成本建模与估算（InCoME）方法，提供COCOMO、类比、回归等多种估算方法的支持。估算结果结合不确定性分析和风险分析，给项目计划和决策提供参考。成本估算应用框架形成一套完整和规范的流程，是一个现实可行的软件成本估算的解决方案。本文的另一贡献在于定制开发此应用框架的支撑工具，即集成成本建模与估算工具。在分析调研主流的软件成本估算工具的基础上，为配合估算应用框架，使用eclipse RCP和关系数据库，开发出层次清晰、可扩展性强、可维护性高、易升级易部署、界面友好的支撑工具。我们将基于支撑工具的软件成本估算应用框架应用于现实中的软件企业进行经验研究，经验研究结果表明，企业的软件成本估算得到了明显改善，支撑工具也被很好的接受。

陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区水土保持耕作及施肥下农田土壤种子库特征

为了探明多年免耕下农田恶性杂草发生的机理,提高保护性耕作下作物对农田恶性杂草持久稳定的抑制效果,依据陕西安塞田间4a的定位试验,采用小区调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,从物种组成、密度特征、多样性以及相似性特征等方面,研究了黄土丘陵旱作农区大豆(Glycine max)、玉米(Zea mays)、红小豆(Semen Phaseoli)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)在翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等水平下的农田土壤种子库。结果表明:(1)4种作物24种土样中共萌发出12个物种1965株幼苗,隶属于7科12属。1年生杂草占94%,棒头草(fugax nees ex steud)、苋菜(Acalypha australis)、马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis)、早熟禾(Poasphondylodes)为优势种,占87%。(2)在0～20cm土层不同处理间,土壤种子库的密度变动于(282.9±63.4)～(7482.5±1078.3)粒.m-2,其中,红小豆小区>马铃薯小区>大豆小区>玉米小区;翻耕小区>免...

不同前茬对设施黄瓜产量和品质及土壤酶活性的影响

试验研究了在延安日光温室不同前茬作物条件下,黄瓜随着生长季节的变化其产量和品质及土壤呼吸和酶活性的动态变化。结果表明,前茬为豇豆的黄瓜产量和土壤碱性磷酸酶活性较高,前茬为番茄的黄瓜可溶性糖含量和土壤呼吸强度较高,前茬为四季豆的黄瓜维生素C含量较高,前茬为翻青玉米的黄瓜硝酸盐含量和土壤脲酶活性较高,前茬为翻青黑豆的土壤蔗糖酶活性较高。从提高黄瓜产量的角度出发,豇豆-黄瓜是最佳模式,而从改善黄瓜品质的角度出发,番茄-黄瓜和四季豆-黄瓜是最优模式

半导体异质结及其在光电子学中的应用-2000年诺贝尔物理奖评述

瑞典皇家科学院2000年10月10日宣布，将2000年诺贝尔物理奖授予三位科学家，他们是俄罗斯科学院圣彼得堡约飞技术物理研究所的Zh.I.Alferov、美国加利福尼亚大学的Herbert Kroemer和美国德克萨斯仪器公司的Jack S.Kiby，以表彰他们为现代信息技术，特别是他们发明的高速晶体管、激光二极管和集成电路(芯片)所作出的奠基性贡献。Kilby由于发明并发展了集成电路技术而获奖，通过这项发明，微电子学成为所有现代技术的基础。Kilby的获奖成果已有另文(见2000年第3期《物理》)评述。Alferov和Kromer则是由于他们在半导体异质结及其在电子和光电学中的应用方面的突出贡献则获奖。该文仅就这两位诺贝尔物理奖得主在异质结及其在光电子中的应用方面的贡献进行评述。

A study on GaP/Si heterostructures grown by GS-MBE

GaP/Si is a promoting heterostructure for Si-based optoelectronic devices since lattice constants of GaP and Si are so closed that they can match with each other. GaP was successfully grow on (100) Si subtracts by Gas-Source Molecular Bean Epitaxy (GS-MBE) in the study. The GaP/Si heterostructure was characterized by X-ray double crystal diffraction, Anger electron spectrograph, X-ray photonic spectrograph and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The results showed that the epitaxial GaP layers are single crystalline, in which a parallel to and a (perpendicular to)are 0.54322 and 0.54625 nm, respectively. The peaks in PL spectra of GaP epitaxial layer grown on Si are 650, 627 and 640 nm, respectively. The study demonstrated that GaP/Si is a kind of lattice matched heterostructures and will be a promoting materials for future integrated photonics.

Integration' in the US coastal zone management program

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which the existing US Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program represents Integrated Coastal Management (ICM). The actions taken at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 as part of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) could eventually impact the policies of the US in such a way as to encourage better integration of US coastal and ocean management efforts.

不同植被对土壤侵蚀及铜元素流失的影响

通过野外天然降雨产流及人工模拟降雨试验,研究不同植被对坡面土壤侵蚀及土壤铜元素流失的影响及降雨过程中铜元素的流失规律。结果表明:(1)紫花苜蓿、绿豆、荒草3种植被覆盖小区的年径流量为5183.8,5 366.2,3 867.3 m~3/km~2,比裸地减少33%,30.8%和50.1%;侵蚀模数为379.18.482.3,15.78 t/km~2,比裸地减少34.7%,16.4%和97.2%;全年全铜流失量为12.9,25.5,0.46 kg/km~2,有效铜流失量为6.22,11.01,0.15 kg/ km~2,分别比裸地减少67.3%,35.3%,98.8%和54.6%,19.6%,98.9%;(2)在模拟降雨过程中,农地小区的产流产沙强度过程呈现波动上升趋势,产沙过程波动较产流过程剧烈。铜元素流失强度过程与产流产沙强度过程相似,但其峰值多于产流产沙过程,且最高峰出现时间不同。有效铜流失强度变化率略高于全铜。

Aberrant expression of X-linked genes RbAp46, Rsk4, and Cldn2 in breast cancer

The consequence of activation status or gain/loss of an X-chromosome in terms of the expression of tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes in breast cancer has not been clearly addressed. In this study, we investigated the activation status of the X-chromosomes in a panel of human breast cancer cell lines, human breast carcinoma, and adjacent mammary tissues and a panel of murine mammary epithelial sublines ranging from low to high invasive potentials. Results show that most human breast cancer cell lines were homozygous, but both benign cell lines were heterozygous for highly polymorphic X-loci (IDS and G6PD). On the other hand, 60% of human breast carcinoma cases were heterozygous for either IDS or G6PD markers. Investigation of the activation status of heterozygous cell lines revealed the presence of only one active X-chromosome, whereas most heterozygous human breast carcinoma cases had two active X-chromosomes. Furthermore, we determined whether or not an additional active X-chromosome affects expression levels of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Reverse transcription-PCR data show high expression of putative tumor suppressor genes Rsk4 and RbAp46 in 47% and 79% of breast carcinoma cases, respectively, whereas Cldn2 was down-regulated in 52% of breast cancer cases compared with normal adjacent tissues. Consistent with mRNA expression, immunostaining for these proteins also showed a similar pattern. In conclusion, our data suggest that high expression of RbAp46 is likely to have a role in the development or progression of human breast cancer. The activation status of the X-chromosome may influence the expression levels of X-linked oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes.

Infrared heater arrays for warming ecosystem field plots

There is a need for methodology to warm open-field plots in order to study the likely effects of global warming on ecosystems in the future. Herein, we describe the development of arrays of more powerful and efficient infrared heaters with ceramic heating elements. By tilting the heaters at 45 degrees from horizontal and combining six of them in a hexagonal array, good uniformity of warming was achieved across 3-m-diameter plots. Moreover, there do not appear to be obstacles (other than financial) to scaling to larger plots. The efficiency [eta(h) (%); thermal radiation out per electrical energy in] of these heaters was higher than that of the heaters used in most previous infrared heater experiments and can be described by: eta(h) = 10 + 25exp(-0.17 u), where u is wind speed at 2 m height (m s(-1)). Graphs are presented to estimate operating costs from degrees of warming, two types of plant canopy, and site windiness. Four such arrays were deployed over plots of grass at Haibei, Qinghai, China and another at Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, along with corresponding reference plots with dummy heaters. Proportional integral derivative systems with infrared thermometers to sense canopy temperatures of the heated and reference plots were used to control the heater outputs. Over month-long periods at both sites, about 75% of canopy temperature observations were within 0.5 degrees C of the set-point temperature differences between heated and reference plots. Electrical power consumption per 3-m-diameter plot averaged 58 and 80 kW h day(-1) for Haibei and Cheyenne, respectively. However, the desired temperature differences were set lower at Haibei (1.2 degrees C daytime, 1.7 degrees C night) than Cheyenne (1.5 degrees C daytime, 3.0 degrees C night), and Cheyenne is a windier site. Thus, we conclude that these hexagonal arrays of ceramic infrared heaters can be a successful temperature free-air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system for warming ecosystem field plots.