Talking Helps: Evolving Communicating Agents for the Predator-Prey Pursuit Problem

We analyze a general model of multi-agent communication in which all agents communicate simultaneously to a message board. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve multi-agent languages for the predator agents in a version of the predator-prey pursuit problem. We show that the resulting behavior of the communicating multi-agent system is equivalent to that of a Mealy finite state machine whose states are determined by the agents’ usage of the evolved language. Simulations show that the evolution of a communication language improves the performance of the predators. Increasing the language size (and thus increasing the number of possible states in the Mealy machine) improves the performance even further. Furthermore, the evolved communicating predators perform significantly better than all previous work on similar preys. We introduce a method for incrementally increasing the language size which results in an effective coarse-to-fine search that significantly reduces the evolution time required to find a solution. We present some observations on the effects of language size, experimental setup, and prey difficulty on the evolved Mealy machines. In particular, we observe that the start state is often revisited, and incrementally increasing the language size results in smaller Mealy machines. Finally, a simple rule is derived that provides a pessimistic estimate on the minimum language size that should be used for any multi-agent problem

Individual attitudes, organizational reward system and patenting performance of R&D scientists and engineers

The interactive process perspective of innovation suggests that the innovation performance of individual R&D scientist or engineers (RSEs) is influenced by a nexus of interaction between individual attributes and organizational characteristics. While numerous empirical studies have investigated the effects of various sets of individual and organizational antecedents on the innovation performance of individuals, few have examined the interaction effects between the two. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the interactive effects of the attitudes of individual RSEs and the organizational reward system on the patenting performance of these RSEs.Innovative performance; individual attitudes; organizational reward system

Firms’ Innovative Performance: The Mediating Role of Innovative Collaborations

While existing studies have provided many insightful discussions on the antecedents to innovative collaborations and the benefits of collaborative behavior, few studies have focused on the mediating role of innovative collaborations in enhancing the firm’s technological innovative performance. In this paper, we investigate the mediating role of the firm’s innovative collaborations in the relation between government innovation support and the firm’s product and process innovation intensities. As a mediating factor in the innovation process, innovative collaborations form part of the innovative inputs that contribute to the firm’s product and process innovation intensities. Using arguments derived from the resource-based theory, we found that while receipts of government innovation support help increase the firm’s level of innovative inputs as observed in its collaboration intensity, it is equally important for firms to internalize management practices that encourage maximum leverage of government innovation support for pursuits of innovative collaborations. In a similar vein, while innovative collaborations are necessary for realizing innovative outputs including product and process innovations, it is not a sufficient condition for achieving strong innovative performance. The firm’s internal capabilities as observed in its learning, R&D, resource allocation, manufacturing, marketing, organizing, and strategic planning abilities have a positive influence on the relationship between innovative collaborations and innovative outputs.Innovative Performance; Innovative Collaboration; Firm’s Contextual Factors

Viscous-shock-layer analysis of hypersonic flows over long slender vehicles

An efficient and accurate method for solving the viscous shock layer equations for hypersonic flows over long slender bodies is presented. The two first order equations, continuity and normal momentum, are solved simultaneously as a coupled set. The flow conditions included are from high Reynolds numbers at low altitudes to low Reynolds numbers at high altitudes. For high Reynolds number flows, both chemical nonequilibrium and perfect gas cases are analyzed with surface catalytic effects and different turbulence models, respectively. At low Reynolds number flow conditions, corrected slip models are implemented with perfect gas case. Detailed comparisons are included with other predictions and experimental data

Entrepreneurship by circumstances and abilities: the mediating role of job satisfaction and moderating role of self-efficacy

Prior studies have found that job dissatisfaction and self-efficacy are significant factors influencing individuals’ entrepreneurial propensity. Existing literature on entrepreneurship often regards job dissatisfaction as an entrepreneurial push factor and self-efficacy as an entrepreneurial pull factor. The argument is that individuals who are dissatisfied with their jobs are more likely to seek alternative mode of employment such as self-employment. In other words, poor job circumstances may push individuals to leave their paid employment to start their own businesses. On the other hand, personal abilities such as self-efficacy may pull individuals toward starting their own businesses in areas where they are confident and competent in. Despite the importance of job dissatisfaction and self-efficacy for new venture creation, few if any studies have examined the entrepreneurial phenomena from a holistic perspective. Utilizing concepts from the P-E fit and self-efficacy literatures, this paper argues that the path to entrepreneurship is a multi-faceted interactive process between individuals’ personal attributes and their work environment. We specifically examined how IT professional’s personal attributes such as innovation orientation and self-efficacy condition individuals for an entrepreneurial career in unsatisfactory work environments.

The Taman Siswa in Postwar Indonesia

Page range: 41-6

Search-Theoretic Money, Capital and International Exchange Rate Fluctuations

In this paper we develop a two-country global monetary economy where a monetary equilibrium exists because of fundamentaldecentralized trade frictions ? a Lagos-Wright search and matching friction. In the decentralized markets (DM), the terms of trade can be determined either by bargaining or by competitive price taking (baseline model). We show that the baseline model is capable of generating quite realistic real and nominal exchange rate volatility observed in the data, without relying on more ad-hoc sticky price assumptions commonly used in the international macroeconomics literature. The key mechanism lies in the role of search and matching frictions and a primitive technological assumption ? that capital is also a complementary input to production in the DM. This creates an internal propagation mechanism by modifying asset-pricing relations and relative price dynamics in the model.Search-theoretic Money, Open Economy, Real Exchange Rate Puzzle

Combined Effect of Calcium Nitrate and Fluorescent Pseudomonads on Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia Solanacearum

A study on the combined effect of calcium nitrate and fluorescent Pseudomonads on bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum on tomato was carried out in the greenhouse and field. Greenhouse studies showed that application of calcium nitrate solution at 0.1 % and 0.5% on tomato seedlings prior to transplanting gave significant increase (p<0.01) on the fresh and dry weight of the treated seedlings compared to the 1% treatment and the non-treated control. Application of 0.5% calcium nitrate solution prior to transplanting, complemented with application of granular calcium nitrate after transplanting gave significant reduction (p<0.01) on bacterial wilt incidence on tomato seedlings planted in soil artificially infested with R. solanacearum at approximately 106 cfu/g oven-dry soil. Four strains of antagonistic Pseudomonads, that inhibited the growth of R. solanacearum on dual-culture plates, were tested individually in biopriming (approximately 1 X 108 cfu/ml in 1.5% methylcellulose) on their effects towards seed germination and biomass of the treated tomato seedlings. Pseudomonas putida strains KTS26 and AC1 individually gave significant (p<0.01) increase on germination (%) compared to when seeds were coated with methylcellulose only. Fresh weight of 30-days-old seedlings was significantly increased (p<0.01) by bio-priming with combination of KTS26 and AC1 , and with KTS26 alone. However, dry weight of seedlings was not affected by the treatments. G reenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the combined effects of seed bio-priming with Pseudomonas pufida strains KTS26 and AC1 , either individually or in combination; application of calcium nitrate, at regular intervals, prior to and after transplanting; and application of Stonier's medium (half-strength) in controlling bacterial wilt on MT11 up to 6 weeks after transplanting. All combination of treatments significantly (p0.01) reduced the disease, compared to the non-treated control. However, no significant difference was observed between the treatments

Traffic Calming Along Urban Roads Case Study: Central Business District, Johor Bahru

Many rapidly developing cities are plagued with urban problems related to high level of motorization on the road. Contemporary measures adopted to address the issues of high motorization level are usually associated with engineering based capital improvement projects (CIPs). However, this will not necessarily overcome the traffic problems; in the long run, it will reproduce the same problem, at an even greater magnitude. CIPs also lead to the loss of urban heritage, natural elements and public amenities in the cities; and overall urban environmental degradation. It is time to look on to new measures to tackle the traffic problems. For this purpose, this research looks into the potentials of introducing traffic calming onto urban roads in the Central Business District (CBD) of Johor Bahru from traffic planning perspectives. Traffic calming aims at the total enhancement of road safety, improvement of traffic condition and betterment of the overall urban environment through vehicles speed reduction, deterring through traffic, encouraging pedestrianisation and cycling, and discouraging private vehicles usage. The research involves an inventory on site physical features; a road and intersection inventory; and weekdays and weekend observations on overall traffic condition. Site analysis shows that presently, the CBD of Johor Bahru faces serious traffic congestions especially during peak hours, due to high through traffic levels and limited east-west road linkages. There is a dire need for some measures to be implemented in order to reduce congestions and maintain the accessibility and attractiveness of the city, in line with the Johor Bahru District Local Plan 2020. This development plan had outlined in detail policies and guidelines for the development of the Johor Bahru Central District (including the CBD) augur well for the implementation of traffic calming in Johor Bahru. The development plan provides an opportunity to make a fresh start towards incorporating traffic calming into the new road network of the CBD.Questionnaire interviews with 90 business operators/ proprietors in the CBD of Johor Bahru shows a 44% agreement and 56% disagreement to the implementation of traffic calming in the CBD. The main reasons for disagreement include worries that business might deteriorate, current traffic volume is too high and lack of confidence in the effectiveness of traffic calming. Consultations with the city fire department and the hospital yield positive feedbacks whereas the police and the city bus operators consent to traffic calming on the condition that current traffic conditions be improved first. Evaluation on various traffic calming measures using the modified Goals Achievement Matrix (GAM) technique indicates that humped pedestrian crossings, raised plateau junctions, pavement widening, side road closures, bus priority lanes, speed cushions and flat top humps are suitable measures to be used on roads in the CBD. Finally, an area-wide scheme has been proposed within the CBD of Johor Bahru on collector roads, local roads and limited access controlled roads. Speed limits of 35 km/h to 50 km/h are proposed, to be achieved utilizing the 75-millimetre flat top humps, humped pedestrian crossing, raised plateau junctions, speed cushions, bus priority lanes, partial junction closure, gateway signage, rumble strips and 50-millimetre low height humps. It is concluded that traffic calming has the potential to be implemented on urban roads within the CBD and to be extended onto other urban roads

Viscous Shock Layer Analysis of Hypersonic Flows Over Long Slender Vehicles

A method for solving the viscous shock-layer equations for hypersonic flows over long slender bodies is presented. The governing equations are solved by employing a spatial-marching implicit finite-difference technique. The two first-order equations, continuity and normal momentum, are solved simultaneously as a coupled set. This method yields a simple and computationally efficient technique. Flows past hyperboloids and sphere cones with body half angles of five to 35 degrees are considered. The flow conditions included are from high Reynolds numbers at low altitudes to low Reynolds numbers at high altitudes. Detailed comparisons have been made with other predictions and experimental data for slender body flows. The results show that the coupling between the continuity and normal momentum equations is essential and adequate to obtain stable and accurate solutions past long slender bodies. Both the Cebeci-Smith and Baldwin-Lomax turbulence models are found to be adequate for application to long slender bodies. Using the corrected slip models, the viscous shock-layer predictions compare quite favorably with experimental data. Under chemical nonequilibrium conditions, the surface catalytic effects can significantly influence the surface heat transfer