KEMNAD: A Knowledge Engineering Methodology for Negotiating Agent Development

Automated negotiation is widely applied in various domains. However, the development of such systems is a complex knowledge and software engineering task. So, a methodology there will be helpful. Unfortunately, none of existing methodologies can offer sufficient, detailed support for such system development. To remove this limitation, this paper develops a new methodology made up of: (1) a generic framework (architectural pattern) for the main task, and (2) a library of modular and reusable design pattern (templates) of subtasks. Thus, it is much easier to build a negotiating agent by assembling these standardised components rather than reinventing the wheel each time. Moreover, since these patterns are identified from a wide variety of existing negotiating agents(especially high impact ones), they can also improve the quality of the final systems developed. In addition, our methodology reveals what types of domain knowledge need to be input into the negotiating agents. This in turn provides a basis for developing techniques to acquire the domain knowledge from human users. This is important because negotiation agents act faithfully on the behalf of their human users and thus the relevant domain knowledge must be acquired from the human users. Finally, our methodology is validated with one high impact system

Friedmann branes with variable tension

We introduce brane-worlds with non-constant tension, strenghtening the analogy with fluid membranes, which exhibit a temperature-dependence according to the empirical law established by E\"otv\"os. This new degree of freedom allows for evolving gravitational and cosmological constants, the latter being a natural candidate for dark energy. We establish the covariant dynamics on a brane with variable tension in full generality, by considering asymmetrically embedded branes and allowing for non-standard model fields in the 5-dimensional space-time. Then we apply the formalism for a perfect fluid on a Friedmann brane, which is embedded in a 5-dimensional charged Vaidya-Anti de Sitter space-time.Comment: 12 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Multiple-Scattering Series For Color Transparency

Color transparency CT depends on the formation of a wavepacket of small spatial extent. It is useful to interpret experimental searches for CT with a multiple scattering scattering series based on wavepacket-nucleon scattering instead of the standard one using nucleon-nucleon scattering. We develop several new techniques which are valid for differing ranges of energy. These techniques are applied to verify some early approximations; study new forms of the wave-packet-nucleon interaction; examine effects of treating wave packets of non-zero size; and predict the production of $N^*$'s in electron scattering experiments.Comment: 26 pages, U.Wa. preprint 40427-23-N9

Sum Rule Description of Color Transparency

The assumption that a small point-like configuration does not interact with nucleons leads to a new set of sum rules that are interpreted as models of the baryon-nucleon interaction. These models are rendered semi-realistic by requiring consistency with data for cross section fluctuations in proton-proton diffractive collisions.Comment: 22 pages + 3 postscript figures attache

An Assessment of the environmental radiation dose for residents of the Perth Metropolitan Area

The total environmental radiation dose for residents of the Perth Metropolitan Area is assessed. This dose is assumed to come from a variety of sources, including Rn(222) and Rn(220) progeny, background gamma radiation, radioactivity of building materials and radioactivity in drinking water. Based on the results of measurements of these sources, the average total estimated annual effective dose equivalent for residents of the Perth Metropolitan Area is 3.5 mSv. This is considerably more than the public limit for artificial sources ( 1 mSv) recommended by the ICRP. Nearly 50% of the average total dose comes from indoor Rn(222) and Rn(220) progeny with Rn(222) progeny contributing 31% (1.1 mSv) and Rn(220) progeny 17% (0.6 mSv) of the average total dose. Background gamma radiation contributed 35% (1.2 mSv). Radioactivity of local building materials contributed approximately 13% (0.4 mSv), while radioactive isotopes in groundwater contributed only 3% (0.1 mSv) to the average total annual effective dose equivalent respectivel

Quantification of the effect of cross-shear and applied nominal contact pressure on the wear of moderately cross-linked polyethylene

Polyethylene wear is a great concern in total joint replacement. It is now considered a major limiting factor to the long life of such prostheses. Cross-linking has been introduced to reduce the wear of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Computational models have been used extensively for wear prediction and optimization of artificial knee designs. However, in order to be independent and have general applicability and predictability, computational wear models should be based on inputs from independent experimentally determined wear parameters (wear factors or wear coefficients). The objective of this study was to investigate moderately cross-linked UHMWPE, using a multidirectional pin-on-plate wear test machine, under a wide range of applied nominal contact pressure (from 1 to 11 MPa) and under five different kinematic inputs, varying from a purely linear track to a maximum rotation of ±55°. A computational model, based on a direct simulation of the multidirectional pin-on-plate wear tester, was developed to quantify the degree of cross-shear (CS) of the polyethylene pins articulating against the metallic plates. The moderately cross-linked UHMWPE showed wear factors less than half of that reported in the literature for the conventional UHMWPE, under the same loading and kinematic inputs. In addition, under high applied nominal contact stress, the moderately cross-linked UHMWPE wear showed lower dependence on the degree of CS compared to that under low applied nominal contact stress. The calculated wear coefficients were found to be independent of the applied nominal contact stress, in contrast to the wear factors that were shown to be highly pressure dependent. This study provided independent wear data for inputs into computational models for moderately cross-linked polyethylene and supported the application of wear coefficient–based computational wear models

Radon and thoron daughter measurements using a portable radon sniffer

A flexible version of the two-count method has been developed for use in rapid, inexpensive measurements of radon and thoron progeny working levels in residential and industrial premises in the Perth Metropolitan Area. The Method is adapted for use with a simple radon sniffer based on a low speed pump and an alpha counter. The flexibility of the method derives from the software, where some freedom is permitted in the selection of sampling times and post sampling analysis of the filters. This method has been tested on a variety of radioactive materials and it gives consistent, reliable results over a wide range of working levels. The results of a survey of Rn(222) and Rn(220) progeny levels in dwellings within the Perth Metropolitan Area are reported. This study shows that the mean concentration of indoor Rn(222) progeny was 4.7 mWL (17.4 Bq m-3 EEC) up to 23.3 mWL (86.4 Bq m-3 EEC). The mean thoron progeny concentration was 8.2 mWL (2.25 Bq m-3 EEC) with a range from 1 mWL (0.27 Bq m-3 EEC) to 64.5 mWL (17.74 Bq m-3 EEC). Using conversion factors of 0.061 mSv Bq-1 m-3 for Rn(222) progeny and 0.29 mSv Bq-1 m-3 for Rn(220) progeny respectively (UNSCEAR, 1982), it is estimated the average annual effective dose equivalent is 1.1 mSv for Rn(2220 and 0.6 mSv for Rn(220) respectively