A real-time hybrid neuron network for highly parallel cognitive systems

For comprehensive understanding of how neurons communicate with each other, new tools need to be developed that can accurately mimic the behaviour of such neurons and neuron networks under 'real-time' constraints. In this paper, we propose an easily customisable, highly pipelined, neuron network design, which executes optimally scheduled floating-point operations for maximal amount of biophysically plausible neurons per FPGA family type. To reduce the required amount of resources without adverse effect on the calculation latency, a single exponent instance is used for multiple neuron calculation operations. Experimental results indicate that the proposed network design allows the simulation of up to 1188 neurons on Virtex7 (XC7VX550T) device in brain real-time yielding a speed-up of x12.4 compared to the state-of-the art

B2B e-marketplaces in the airline industry:process drivers and performance indicators

Competitive pressures are increasing within and between different strategically oriented groups of airlines. This paper focuses on the level of efficiency improvements gained by using e-Marketplaces in the procurement process. Findings from a survey among 88 international airlines reveal that the use of Business-to-Business (B2B) e-Marketplaces does play different roles across the various airline groupings. Airlines that are involved in strategic alliances show higher joint procurement activities than airlines that are not involved in strategic alliances. However, alliances are probably viewed as loose arrangements and thus airlines may be reluctant to share information on procurement prices and processes with another airline that could also be acting as a competitor. The financial involvement in or initiation of e-Marketplaces by airlines is very low. Low cost airlines show high use of e-Marketplaces, but demonstrate little financial involvement in contrast. Overall, the categories of spares and repairs, office supplies, tools and ground support equipment (GSE) show the greatest potential for reducing costs and increasing procurement process efficiencies. The intense competitive pressures facing carriers will make their search for tools to realise even incremental savings and efficiency gains ever more urgent. There is evidence that e-Marketplaces are one tool to improve such performance indicators

Pseudotumoural soft tissue lesions of the hand and wrist: a pictorial review

Mimickers of soft tissue tumours in the hand and wrist are more frequent than true neoplastic lesions. Pseudotumours belong to a large and heterogeneous group of disorders, varying from normal anatomical variants, cystic lesions, post-traumatic lesions, skin lesions, inflammatory and infectious lesions, non-neoplastic vascular lesions, metabolic disorders (crystal deposition disease and amyloidosis) and miscellaneous disorders. Although the imaging approach to pseudotumoural lesions is often very similar to the approach to “true” soft tissue tumoral counterparts, further management of these lesions is different. Biopsy should be performed only in doubtful cases, when the diagnosis is unclear. Therefore, the radiologist plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of these lesions. Awareness of the normal anatomy and existence and common imaging presentation of these diseases, in combination with relevant clinical findings (clinical history, age, location and skin changes), enables the radiologist to make the correct diagnosis in most cases, thereby limiting the need for invasive procedures

Legal linked data ecosystems and the rule of law

This chapter introduces the notions of meta-rule of law and socio-legal ecosystems to both foster and regulate linked democracy. It explores the way of stimulating innovative regulations and building a regulatory quadrant for the rule of law. The chapter summarises briefly (i) the notions of responsive, better and smart regulation; (ii) requirements for legal interchange languages (legal interoperability); (iii) and cognitive ecology approaches. It shows how the protections of the substantive rule of law can be embedded into the semantic languages of the web of data and reflects on the conditions that make possible their enactment and implementation as a socio-legal ecosystem. The chapter suggests in the end a reusable multi-levelled meta-model and four notions of legal validity: positive, composite, formal, and ecological

Neo-classical principles for information integrity

Abstract: For inter-organizational systems, integrity of information is crucial: how to make sure that the information represented in a system will continue to faithfully represent business reality? In this paper we present a neo-classical approach to information integrity. We apply \u84classic? principles of administrative organization and internal control (value cycle; segregation of duties) to a modern network organization. The approach is illustrated with a case study of an e-procurement system for healthcare related transport services. The case illustrates the principles and demonstrates that communication and feedback are crucial for improving and maintaining information integrity.ICTTechnology, Policy and Managemen

Techno-economic optimization for grid-friendly rooftop PV systems – A case study of commercial buildings in British Columbia

High levels of non-dispatchable photo-voltaic (PV) generation integrated with the grid may disrupt its operation. Aligning the PV panels to follow local building demand can partially elevate this. We investigate the economic viability of alignment for buildings owners and grid utility. A bi-level optimization framework is built to determine the design of a building rooftop PV system. An upper-level optimizer selects panel design parameters to lower either cost or grid electricity imports of the lower-level optimization. The lower-level energy-economical model optimization sizes the panels to minimize building electricity cost given building demand, given grid pricing, available roof area, and other factors. A case study of commercial building archetypes in Vancouver BC finds that at the price of (50% reduction of current prices) PV is profitable. For all archetypes profitable alternative grid-friendly designs were found, however, for some buildings large increases in peak power are observed. For some archetypes, a profitable alternative was found that lowers the overall electricity imports (between 4 and 7%) and limits impacts on peak power exports (below 125% of original peak import). Our future work will look into the uncertainty and sensitivity of the framework, technology improvements, and alternative economical models

Information Exchange in Global Logistics Chains: An application for Model-based Auditing (abstract)

An integrated data pipeline has been proposed to meet requirements for supply chain visibility and control. How can data integration be used for risk assessment, monitoring and control in global supply chains? We argue that concepts from model-based auditing can be used to model the ‘ideal’ flow of money and goods, and by identifying deficiencies, to determine possible risks concerning safety and regulatory compliance. In particular, we propose to use the ‘value-cycle model’ for specifying economic transactions, and connect the expected economic status transitions to the physical flow of goods. The usefulness of the model in practice is shown by a case study of a retail trade lane of between China and United Kingdom