The evolution of negotiation and impasse in two-party multi-issue bargaining

Automated negotiation systems are becoming increasingly important and pervasive. Most previous research on automated negotiation has focused on understanding and formalizing “successful” negotiations, i.e., negotiations that do not become contentious to the point of impasse. This paper shifts the emphasis to negotiations that are “difficult” to resolve and can hit an impasse. It analyses a situation where two agents bargain over the division of the surplus of several distinct issues to demonstrate how a procedure to avoid impasses can be utilized in a specific negotiation setting. The procedure is based on the addition of new issues to the agenda during the course of negotiation and the exploration of the differences in the valuation of these issues to capitalize on Pareto optimal agreements. This paper also lays the foundation for performing an experiment to investigate how the evolution of negotiation contributes to the avoidance of impasses, paying particular attention to the expansion of the number of issues to be deliberated and its impact on the frequency of impasse

Interdisciplinary approach to automated negotiation: a preliminary report

Autonomous agents with negotiation competence are becoming increasingly important and pervasive. This paper follows an interdisciplinary approach to build autonomous negotiating agents by considering both game-theoretic techniques and bargaining procedures from the social sciences. The paper presents a generic model that handles bilateral multi-issue negotiation, describes equilibrium strategies for the bargaining game of alternating offers, and formalizes important strategies used by human negotiators. Autonomous agents equipped with the model are able to negotiate under both complete and incomplete information, thereby making them very compelling for automated negotiation

Towards an interdisciplinary framework for automated negotiation

Negotiation is an important and pervasive form of social interaction. The design of autonomous negotiating agents involves the consideration of insights from multiple relevant research areas to integrate different perspectives on negotiation. As a starting point for an interdisciplinary research effort, this paper presents a model that handles bilateral multi-issue negotiation, employs game-theoretic techniques to define equilibrium strategies for the bargaining game of alternating offers, and formalizes a set of negotiation strategies and tactics studied in the social sciences. Autonomous agents equipped with the model are currently being developed using the Jade framework. The agents are able to negotiate under both complete and incomplete information, thereby making the model in particular and the agents in general very compelling for automated negotiatio

Novel data-driven methodologies for parameter estimation and interpretation of fuel cells performance

Fuel cell based power generation systems are expected to become more widespread in the near future. Stationary fuel cells may be used as an uninterruptible or back-up power supply, or to supply micro-grids. In particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are an attractive technology due to its high energy density, rigid and simple structure, low operating temperature and fast start-up characteristics. The power quality assessment of fuel cells as a viable power sources requires a good understanding of the fuel cell performance characteristics. This paper presents two novel data-driven methodologies for the identification of the main steady state (polarization curve) and the dynamic (impedance response) characteristics for fuel-cells allowing the development of rapid, accurate and empirical models based on the experimental data. M-NMF is a modified non-negative matrix factorization technique developed for the analysis of polarization curve data that allows to identify the three main contributions for the fuel-cell power degradation, while for impedance spectroscopy data, this paper proposes the use of fractional order transfer functions (FC-FOTC) to describe the main dynamic modes present in the fuel-cell. A brief description of these two approaches is presented, together with the analysis of a real experimental dataset obtained from a 12W open cathode PEMFC stack to illustrate their potential and scope. While the former is instrumental for the deconvolution of the fuel cell polarization curves into its major components, the latter enables the estimation of the parameters related to the inherent transport and kinetic phenomena, thus opening the way, in both cases, for the interpretation of the effect of the operating conditions on the relative dominance and magnitude of these components and phenomena

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy modeling using the dis-tribution of relaxation times and error analysis for fuel cells

This paper proposes a new approach to determine the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) directly from the electro-chemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data, i.e. without the use of an equivalent electrical circuit model. The method uses a generalized fractional-order Laguerre basis to represent EIS where both the parameters of the basis and their co-efficients are estimated by solving a nonconvex minimization problem. Furthermore, the DRT confidence region is de-termined to assess the accuracy and precision of the DRT estimate. The approach is applied to analyze the dominant dynamic properties of an open-cathode hydrogen fuel-cell under different current and air-flow conditions. Results showed that the estimated DRT closely reconstructs EIS data even when there is a higher variance at smaller relaxation times

Hydrogen PEMFC stack performance analysis : a data-driven approach

For low power fuel cells, it is paramount that management of reactants, water and heat, be realized in a passive fashion in order to minimize parasitic losses. Effective fuel, oxygen supply and water management for reliable performance are also greatly affected by cell geometry and materials. Fuel cells are complex systems to optimize on a mere experimental basis. As an aid to this goal, data-driven analysis techniques, requiring no mathematical model to be fixed a priori, are gaining a reputation in other fields of work, where a phenomenological modeling approach might be intractable. This work presents a characterization study of a 12W PEMFC series stack by means of a new data-driven technique, M-NMF. The stack was developed for low temperature operation, uses own designed flow field plates, integrated in a series configuration, and is operated for 12 combinations of hydrogen/air flowrate ratios, generating as many polarization curves. M-NMF is applied, in combination with an alternating least squares algorithm, to the analysis of the overvoltage data matrix derived from the original experimental polarization data. From this analysis, it is possible to group and differentiate data according to similar overvoltage patterns and gain insight into their relative contribution to fuel cell performance immunization

Olive tree response to the severity of pruning

Pruning has been seen as a means of improving olive tree productivity. The presumed importance of pruning was described by Columella (born 4 AD), and has persisted in general terms to the present. In this work, the effect of different pruning regimes was assessed from two field trials conducted in Mirandela, NE Portugal, in an olive grove of cv. ‘Cobrançosa’, rainfed managed. The first trial began after a light crop (“off” year) and received four pruning regimes (hard, moderate, light, and nonpruned control). The second trial started the following year, after a heavy crop (“on” year), and received two pruning regimes (hard and nonpruning). The study was carried out from 2012 to 2016. The accumulated crops of the four harvests performed after pruning in the first experiment did not significantly vary among nonpruning (8754 kg ha-1), slight pruning (8850 kg ha-1), and moderate pruning (8334 kg ha-1) but was significantly lower in hard pruning (6449 kg ha-1). The olive trees showed a high plasticity or tolerance to pruning, since olive yield did not decrease in response to light or moderate pruning regimes. It seems that it is possible to carry out light to moderate pruning to achieve several objectives of orchard management without significant loss of production. The results also showed that if pruning is done under a hard regime it should only be performed after a heavy crop. In addition, if done under a light regime, pruning can also reduce the alternate-year bearing behavior of the olive tree.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/ AGR/00690/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing cell polarity reversal degradation phenomena in PEM Fuel Cells by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

The mechanisms of fuel cell degradation are multiple and not well understood. Irreversible changes in the kinetic and/or transport properties of the cell are fostered by thermal, chemical and mechanical issues which constrain stability, power and fuel cell lifetime. Within the in-situ diagnostics methods and tools available, in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is within the most promising to better understand and categorize changes during fuel cell ageing. In this work, the degradation phenomena caused by cell polarity reversal due to fuel starvation of an open cathode 16 MEA (membrane-electrode assembly) –low power PEM fuel cell (15 W nominal power) is reported using EIS as a base technique. A frequency response analyzer from Solartron Model 1250 was used connected to an electrochemical interface also from Solartron, Model 1286. The range of covered frequencies spans from 37000 Hz to 0.01Hz. Hydrogen is supplied from a metallic hydride small reactor with a capacity of 50 NL H2 at a pressure of 0.2 bar. Measuring the potential of individual cells, while the fuel cell is on load, was found instrumental in assessing the “state of health” of cells at fixed current. Location of affected cells, those farthest away from hydrogen entry in the stack, was revealed by the very low or even negative potential values. EIS spectra were taken at selected break-in periods during fuel cell functioning. The analysis of impedance data is made using two different approaches: using an a priori equivalent circuit describing the transfer function of the system in question -equivalent circuit elements were evaluated by a complex non-linear least square (CNLS) fitting algorithm, and by calculating and analyzing the corresponding distribution of relaxation times (DRT) -avoiding the ambiguity of the a priori equivalent circuit and the need for provision of the initial fitting parameters. A resistance and two RQ elements connected in series are identified as describing the impedance response of the cell during normal functioning. A constant phase element (CPE) was chosen to describe the impedance observed behavior. The quality of the fit was evaluated by analysis of the residuals between the fit result and the measured data at every single point. Consistency and quality of the impedance data were established by Kramers-Kronning validation. With continuous operation, using a reduced hydrogen flow, an inversion of polarity was observed in the 16th cell of the stack, evident in the potential measurement of individual cells as a result of insufficient hydrogen to reach the last cells. EIS data analyses suggest that water electrolysis happens at the anode judging by the appearance of an intermediate semicircle associated to a marked change in resistance and capacitance values. The presence of an inductive loop at low frequencies is now evident, which cannot be explained by the relaxation of reaction intermediates involved in the oxygen reduction reaction [1]. It is to be noticed that when the incursion into the negative potential values is not too marked the phenomenon is partially reversible, so it is suggested that the relaxation is due to intermediates in the water electrolysis process. The anode potential rose to levels compatible with the oxidation of water. Once the phenomenon is made irreversible and when water is no longer available, oxidation of the carbon support is favored accelerating catalyst sintering. Ex-situ MEA cross section analysis, under a scanning electron microscope, confirmed it. Electrode thickness reduction and delamination of catalyst layers were observed as a result of reactions taking place during hydrogen starvation. Carbon corrosion and membrane degradation are analyzed, according to evidence by SEM

Relaxation time distribution analysis of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack from its impedance response

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an analysis technique that is commonly used as a base diagnostics technique for the in-situ analysis of the kinetic and transport properties of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This work proposes to use the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) as a complementary analysis technique for the interpretation of EIS data. For this purpose, the DRT is deduced for a modified Randles electric circuit composed of a constant phase element (CPE) connected in parallel with a resistance in series with a finite diffusion Warburg element. The experimental EIS data collected from an eight cell PEMFC with an open-air cathode was modeled through the use of two modified Randles circuit representing the fuel-cell electrodes. The analysis of the DRT allows to identify further characteristics of the individual processes that occur at both electrodes, while also being instrumental in detecting the effect on the fuel cell performance of some operating conditions, namely hydrogen flow-rate and current