Design of a Two-level Adaptive Multi-Agent System for Malaria Vectors driven by an ontology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The understanding of heterogeneities in disease transmission dynamics as far as malaria vectors are concerned is a big challenge. Many studies while tackling this problem don't find exact models to explain the malaria vectors propagation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To solve the problem we define an Adaptive Multi-Agent System (AMAS) which has the property to be elastic and is a two-level system as well. This AMAS is a dynamic system where the two levels are linked by an Ontology which allows it to function as a reduced system and as an extended system. In a primary level, the AMAS comprises organization agents and in a secondary level, it is constituted of analysis agents. Its entry point, a User Interface Agent, can reproduce itself because it is given a minimum of background knowledge and it learns appropriate "behavior" from the user in the presence of ambiguous queries and from other agents of the AMAS in other situations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Some of the outputs of our system present a series of tables, diagrams showing some factors like Entomological parameters of malaria transmission, Percentages of malaria transmission per malaria vectors, Entomological inoculation rate. Many others parameters can be produced by the system depending on the inputted data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our approach is an intelligent one which differs from statistical approaches that are sometimes used in the field. This intelligent approach aligns itself with the distributed artificial intelligence. In terms of fight against malaria disease our system offers opportunities of reducing efforts of human resources who are not obliged to cover the entire territory while conducting surveys. Secondly the AMAS can determine the presence or the absence of malaria vectors even when specific data have not been collected in the geographical area. In the difference of a statistical technique, in our case the projection of the results in the field can sometimes appeared to be more general.</p

Modeling an Intelligent E-marketplace Software: Another Outlook of an E-commerce Environment.

Les places de marché virtuelles constituent l\'expression la plus courante des transactions électroniques interentreprises –B2B. Elles permettent, à travers le plus vaste réseau de communication du monde (Internet), de mettre en relation directe d\'affaires des fournisseurs et des acheteurs d\'horizons divers. La réalisation de ces interactions comporte des points critiques qu\'il convient de traiter de façon optimale pour créer un forum efficace où les participants bénéficient pleinement des offres du marché virtuel. Les aspects concernés comprennent notamment l\'automatisation des procédures, l\'analyse contextuelle approfondie du marché, la facilitation du processus de prise de décisions, les négociations de conditions d\'achat/vente et les services à valeur ajoutée. Notre contribution dans la construction d\'une infrastructure qui prend en compte ces points essentiels se focalise sur la conception architecturale et l\'intégration d\'un module de gestion de connaissances, qui soit assez intelligent pour simplifier la réalisation des aspects susmentionnés des transactions interentreprises.Virtual market places are known to be the most current expression of today\'s business-to-business electronic transactions. Through the worldwide communication network (Internet), virtual markets enable direct business relations between buyers and suppliers coming from many different horizons. These interactions bring out crucial problems such as procedures automation, transaction and market analysis, decisions taking, value added services and pricing negotiations, which need to be solved in order to create an e-market forum where participants benefit from its offers. Our contribution in the building of such an infrastructure focuses on the architectural design of an embedded knowledge management module intelligent enough to streamline the process of tackling the above mentioned aspects of a business-to-business (B2B) emarketplace. Keywords: e-intelligence, e-business, e-marketplace, gestion des connaissances, systèmes à base de règles.; e-intelligence, e-business, e-marketplace, knowledge management, rules-based systems. Journal des Sciences Pour l\'Ingénieur. Vol. 7 2006: pp. 45-5

Design and implementation of a mosquito database through an entomological ontology : erratum

There have been constant changes in the biology and behavior of the vector and parasite involved in the transmission of malaria. There is limited interest in developing new technologies and procedures for controlling the underlying factors of this threat, which poses an enormous challenge to health systems. To understand the various vector species and their interrelations is of prime importance in understanding the transmission mechanisms of malaria in order to react efficiently. To attain this objective, we have used an ontological approach to produce a database that we consider to be our own contribution in helping to control malarial vectors if eradication has been unsuccessful in the previous control campaign

Design of a two-level Adaptive Multi-Agent System for malaria vectors driven by an Ontology - art. no. 19

Background: The understanding of heterogeneities in disease transmission dynamics as far as malaria vectors are concerned is a big challenge. Many studies while tackling this problem don't find exact models to explain the malaria vectors propagation. Methods: To solve the problem we define an Adaptive Multi- Agent System (AMAS) which has the property to be elastic and is a two- level system as well. This AMAS is a dynamic system where the two levels are linked by an Ontology which allows it to function as a reduced system and as an extended system. In a primary level, the AMAS comprises organization agents and in a secondary level, it is constituted of analysis agents. Its entry point, a User Interface Agent, can reproduce itself because it is given a minimum of background knowledge and it learns appropriate ' behavior ' from the user in the presence of ambiguous queries and from other agents of the AMAS in other situations. Results: Some of the outputs of our system present a series of tables, diagrams showing some factors like Entomological parameters of malaria transmission, Percentages of malaria transmission per malaria vectors, Entomological inoculation rate. Many others parameters can be produced by the system depending on the inputted data. Conclusion: Our approach is an intelligent one which differs from statistical approaches that are sometimes used in the field. This intelligent approach aligns itself with the distributed artificial intelligence. In terms of fight against malaria disease our system offers opportunities of reducing efforts of human resources who are not obliged to cover the entire territory while conducting surveys. Secondly the AMAS can determine the presence or the absence of malaria vectors even when specific data have not been collected in the geographical area. In the difference of a statistical technique, in our case the projection of the results in the field can sometimes appeared to be more general

Potential Biocides: Iodine-Producing Pyrotechnics

Currently there is a need for specialized pyrotechnic materials to combat the threat of biological weapons. Materials have been characterized based on their potential to produce heat and molecular iodine gas (I2) to kill spore-forming bacteria (e. g. anthrax). One formulation, already proven to kill anthrax simulants, is diiodine pentoxide with aluminum; however, it suffers from poor stability and storage problems. The heat and iodine gas output from this mixture and candidate replacement mixtures were measured with bomb calorimetry and extraction and analysis of I2 by UV-Vis. Of the mixtures analyzed, calcium iodate and aluminum was found to be the highest producer of I2. The heat output of this mixture and others can be tuned by adding more fuel, with the cost of some iodine. Products of combustion were analyzed by thermal analysis (SDT), XPS, XRD, and LC/MS. Evidence for various metal iodides and metal oxides was collected with these methods

Potential Biocides: Iodine-Producing Pyrotechnics

Currently there is a need for specialized pyrotechnic materials to combat the threat of biological weapons. Materials have been characterized based on their potential to produce heat and molecular iodine gas (I2) to kill spore-forming bacteria (e. g. anthrax). One formulation, already proven to kill anthrax simulants, is diiodine pentoxide with aluminum; however, it suffers from poor stability and storage problems. The heat and iodine gas output from this mixture and candidate replacement mixtures were measured with bomb calorimetry and extraction and analysis of I2 by UV-Vis. Of the mixtures analyzed, calcium iodate and aluminum was found to be the highest producer of I2. The heat output of this mixture and others can be tuned by adding more fuel, with the cost of some iodine. Products of combustion were analyzed by thermal analysis (SDT), XPS, XRD, and LC/MS. Evidence for various metal iodides and metal oxides was collected with these methods