Meta-tools for software development and knowledge acquisition

The effectiveness of tools that provide support for software development is highly dependent on the match between the tools and their task. Knowledge-acquisition (KA) tools constitute a class of development tools targeted at knowledge-based systems. Generally, KA tools that are custom-tailored for particular application domains are more effective than are general KA tools that cover a large class of domains. The high cost of custom-tailoring KA tools manually has encouraged researchers to develop meta-tools for KA tools. Current research issues in meta-tools for knowledge acquisition are the specification styles, or meta-views, for target KA tools used, and the relationships between the specification entered in the meta-tool and other specifications for the target program under development. We examine different types of meta-views and meta-tools. Our current project is to provide meta-tools that produce KA tools from multiple specification sources--for instance, from a task analysis of the target application

Automation of finite element aided design of induction motors using multi-slice 2D models

Purpose – To develop a practical design tool employing a general purpose electromagnetic finite element (FE) software package to perform automated simulation and performance analysis of induction motors in a design and optimisation process. Design/methodology/approach – Recent publications identified a suitable approach in applying 2D finite-element analysis to 3D problems. This, together with other similar work carried out on brushless DC motors, set out a framework for program development. Performance of the program was validated against practical test data. Findings – Finite-element analysis-based design tools can be realistically employed within a design office environment and are capable of providing solutions within acceptable time scales. Such tools no longer require user expertise in the underlying FE modelling method. The multiple slice technique was employed to model skew in three-phase induction motors and it was established that a four-slice model provides a good balance between accuracy and speed of computation. Research limitations/implications – Program development was based on one commercial FE software package and comparison with practical test data was not exhaustive. However, the approach outlined confirms the practical application. Future work could consider alternative approaches to optimisation. Practical implications – Computing hardware and commercially available 2D FE software have developed sufficiently to enable multi-slice techniques and optimisation to be employed in the analysis and design of machines. Originality/value – This paper provides a practical illustration of how commercial electromagnetic software can be employed as a design tool, demonstrating to industry that such tools no longer need to be bespoke and can realistically be used within a design office

Family of 2-simplex cognitive tools and their application for decision-making and its justifications

Urgency of application and development of cognitive graphic tools for usage in intelligent systems of data analysis, decision making and its justifications is given. Cognitive graphic tool "2-simplex prism" and examples of its usage are presented. Specificity of program realization of cognitive graphics tools invariant to problem areas is described. Most significant results are given and discussed. Future investigations are connected with usage of new approach to rendering, cross-platform realization, cognitive features improving and expanding of n-simplex family.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, conferenc

On Fast Large-Scale Program Analysis in Datalog

Designing and crafting a static program analysis is challenging due to the complexity of the task at hand. Among the challenges are modelling the semantics of the input language, finding suitable abstractions for the analysis, and handwriting efficient code for the analysis in a traditional imperative language such as C++. Hence, the development of static program analysis tools is costly in terms of development time and resources for real world languages. To overcome, or at least alleviate the costs of developing a static program analysis, Datalog has been proposed as a domain specific language (DSL).With Datalog, a designer expresses a static program analysis in the form of a logical specification. While a domain specific language approach aids in the ease of development of program analyses, it is commonly accepted that such an approach has worse runtime performance than handcrafted static analysis tools. In this work, we introduce a new program synthesis methodology for Datalog specifications to produce highly efficient monolithic C++ analyzers. The synthesis technique requires the re-interpretation of the semi-naïve evaluation as a scaffolding for translation using partial evaluation. To achieve high-performance, we employ staged compilation techniques and specialize the underlying relational data structures for a given Datalog specification. Experimentation on benchmarks for large-scale program analysis validates the superior performance of our approach over available Datalog tools and demonstrates our competitiveness with state-of-the-art handcrafted tools

Space station structures and dynamics test program

The design, construction, and operation of a low-Earth orbit space station poses challenges for development and implementation of technology. One specific challenge is the development of a dynamics test program for defining the space station design requirements, and identifying and characterizing phenomena affecting the space station's design and development. The test proposal, as outlined, is a comprehensive structural dynamics program to be launched in support of the space station (SS). Development of a parametric data base and verification of the mathematical models and analytical analysis tools necessary for engineering support of the station's design, construction, and operation provide the impetus for the dynamics test program. The four test phases planned are discussed: testing of SS applicable structural concepts; testing of SS prototypes; testing of actual SS structural hardware; and on-orbit testing of SS construction

Welfare and distributionalimpacts of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

This policy note presents the potential poverty impacts of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) using simple analytical tools and the government's largest database of poor households to date, the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). In doing so, the note also aims to encourage policy-makers and researchers to not only use the NHTS-PR for its intended purpose, that is, for objective targeting of social assistance programs, but also for analysis to maximize the utility of information contained in the database. The Note finds that the Pantawid Pamilya can reduce poverty incidence and inequality in program areas by 2.6 percentage points and 6.6 percent in a year, respectively. Increasing compliance of existing beneficiaries will enhance the poverty-reducing impacts of the Pantawid Pamilya. Expanding program coverage will produce real impacts as long as targeting and program implementation remains properly managed.Poverty Monitoring&Analysis,Regional Economic Development,Rural Poverty Reduction,Health Systems Development&Reform,Services&Transfers to Poor

P.I.P.P.I.: What has changed? How and why? The empirical evidence

This paper provides a summary of the results of the P.I.P.P.I. Program in achieving the prefixed goals on the final, intermediate and proximal outcome variables, regarding children\u2019s development, the positive exercise of parental competences and the effective action of services respectively. Therefore, the main purpose is to describe the impact of the program on the overall well-being of children and families in relation to the processes implemented. This is possible thanks to the wealth of information gathered by professionals through the tools provided for the analysis, design and monitoring activities in the work with families