This paper discusses a modification to improve usability and functionality of a ge- netic neural net algorithm called NEAT (NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topolo- gies). The modification aims to accomplish its goal by automatically changing parameters used by the algorithm with little input from a user. The advan- tage of the modification is to reduce the guesswork needed to setup a successful experiment with NEAT that produces a usable Artificial Intelligence (AI). The modified algorithm is tested against the unmodified NEAT with several different setups and the results are discussed. The algorithm shows strengths in some areas but can increase the runtime of NEAT due to the addition of parameters into the solution search space.

No description available.

Yes / System safety, reliability and risk analysis are important tasks that are performed throughout the system lifecycle to ensure the dependability of safety-critical systems. Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) approaches are comprehensive, structured and logical methods widely used for this purpose. PRA approaches include, but not limited to, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Event Tree Analysis (ETA). Growing complexity of modern systems and their capability of behaving dynamically make it challenging for classical PRA techniques to analyse such systems accurately. For a comprehensive and accurate analysis of complex systems, different characteristics such as functional dependencies among components, temporal behaviour of systems, multiple failure modes/states for components/systems, and uncertainty in system behaviour and failure data are needed to be considered. Unfortunately, classical approaches are not capable of accounting for these aspects. Bayesian networks (BNs) have gained popularity in risk assessment applications due to their flexible structure and capability of incorporating most of the above mentioned aspects during analysis. Furthermore, BNs have the ability to perform diagnostic analysis. Petri Nets are another formal graphical and mathematical tool capable of modelling and analysing dynamic behaviour of systems. They are also increasingly used for system safety, reliability and risk evaluation. This paper presents a review of the applications of Bayesian networks and Petri nets in system safety, reliability and risk assessments. The review highlights the potential usefulness of the BN and PN based approaches over other classical approaches, and relative strengths and weaknesses in different practical application scenarios. / This work was funded by the DEIS H2020 project (Grant Agreement 732242).

Yes

A fairly general model of the elevator system is presented. Coloured Petri Nets (CPN) and CPN tools are adopted as modeling tools. The model, which is independent of the number of floors and elevators, covers different stages of the elevator system in substantial detail. The model assists simulation-based analysis of different algorithms and rules which govern real elevator systems. The results prove the compatibility and applicability of this model in various situations and demonstrate the expressive power and convenience of CPN. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

No description available.

Orientador: Luciane Alarcão Dias-Melicio / Resumo: Recentemente, a deficiência de vitamina D vem se tornando um problema de abrangência mundial em virtude de hábitos rotineiros da população, como o trabalho por períodos prolongados em ambientes fechados e diminuição da exposição solar. Trabalhos recentes demonstram que a vitamina D age não somente na homeostase do cálcio, mas também na regulação do sistema imune. Diante da multiplicidade de funções dessa vitamina, sua deficiência tem sido associada ao risco de desenvolvimento de uma série de doenças, entre elas doenças infecciosas como as causadas por S. aureus. As infecções por essa bactéria têm trazido expressiva preocupação para a população humana em decorrência do aumento da prevalência de cepas resistentes aos fármacos antibacterianos, dificultando, dessa maneira, o tratamento e contribuindo para a busca de métodos alternativos para combater esse tipo de infecção. Além disso, o S. aureus conta com um potente arsenal de fatores de virulência que contribuem para a evasão da resposta imune do hospedeiro. Nesse contexto, torna-se importante avaliar se a vitamina D pode modular os efeitos bactericidas de neutrófilos humanos através de mecanismos intra e extracelulares, favorecendo, portanto, o combate a infecções, especialmente aquelas causadas por microrganismos resistentes aos principais tratamentos. Dessa maneira, nós demonstramos que neutrófilos tratados com vitamina D e desafiados com duas cepas de S. aureus tiveram um aumento nas taxas de fagocitose e atividade bacteric... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the last years, vitamin D deficiency has become a worldwide problem due to routine population habits, such as prolonged work indoors and increased use of sunscreen/decreased sun exposure in attempt to avoid high rates of skin cancer. Recent studies demonstrated that vitamin D acts not only on calcium homeostasis, but also on the regulation and function of the immune system. Facing the countless functions of vitamin D, its deficiency has been associated with the risk of development of many diseases, including infectious diseases such as those caused by S. aureus. Infections caused by these bacteria have brought significant concern to the human population due to the increased prevalence of strains resistant to antibiotics, thus making it difficult to treat and contributing to the search for alternative methods to combat this type of infection. In addition, S. aureus have a variety of virulence factors, which confer the ability to evade host immune responses. In this context, it is important to evaluate whether vitamin D can modulate the bactericidal effects of human neutrophils through intra- and extracellular mechanisms, such as phagocytosis, bacterial killing and release of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), thus contributing to the response against infections, especially those caused by microorganisms resistant to the main treatments. Thus, we demonstrated that neutrophils treated with Vitamin D and challenged with two strains of S. aureus had an increase in phagocyti... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

A methodology for representing and analyzing manufacturing systems in a hybrid systems framework for control reconfiguration purposes in the presence of defects and failures at the product and system levels is presented. At the top level, a supervisory Petri net directs parts/jobs through the manufacturing system. An object-based hybrid systems model that incorporates both Petri nets at the event-driven level and differential equations at the time-driven level describes the subsystems. Rerouting capabilities utilizing this model at the product and operation levels were explained. Simulations were performed on a testbed model for optimal time and mode transition cost to determine the route for parts. The product level reconfiguration architecture utilizes an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to map histogram comparison metrics to set-point adjustments when product defects were detected. Tests were performed on good and defective plastic parts from a plastic injection molding machine. In addition, a mode identification architecture was described that incorporates both time- and event-driven information to determine the operating mode of a system from measured sensor signals. Simulated data representing the measured process signals from a Navy ship chiller system were used to verify that the appropriate operating modes were detected.

Orientador: José Alcides Gobbo Junior / Banca: Marcos Augusto de Vasconcellos / Banca: José Paulo Alves Fusco / Resumo: A importância da prática de inovação, por parte das empresas, já está evidente na literatura (FREEMAN, 1982; HINDMOON, 2008; TAALITA et al., 2006), como um mecanismo eficiente no que diz respeito ao seu desenvolvimento, crescimento e lucratividade. Assim, o principal desafio passa a ser como praticar a inovação, e não mais em relação à sua importância. Neste contexto, a literatura (CALIA, 2007; BRITTO, 2002; TERRA; PLONSK, 2006; AMATO NETO, 2005) parece indicar que as redes surgem como uma forma de viabilização das inovações, podendo oferecer as condições necessárias ao seu desenvolvimento. Desta forma, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo central um aprofundamento na compreensão das redes de transformação. Essas redes são as responsáveis por auxiliar na interligação entre as redes de exploração (criação do conhecimento) e as redes de aplicação (aplicação e utilização do conhecimento). Buscar-se ainda identificar possíveis práticas e ferramentas presentes nas redes de transformação que possam acelerar o processo de inovação. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi o estudo de caso, realizado em duas empresas do setor químico do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os estudos de caso apresentados foram analisados, segundo o modelo de processo de inovação em redes proposto por Gobbo Júnior e Olsson (2010), que descrevem os tipos de redes abertas, fechadas e de transformação, bem como identificam os tipos de atores presentes na interface entre as redes de exploração e aplicação, sugerindo que a inovação é um processo em rede que ocorre em sentido horário ao modelo apresentado. As pesquisas realizadas nas duas empresas corroboraram com os dados apresentados pelo modelo de inovação proposto por Gobbo Júnior e Olsson (2010), em que foi possível identificar não apenas os atores presentes nas redes de exploração e aplicação, mas também os ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The importance of innovation practice by enterprises is already evident in literature (FREEMAN, 1982, HINDMOON, 2008; TAALITA et al., 2006), as an efficient mechanism concerning its development, growt and profit. then, the main challenge is how to practice such innovation, and not its importance anymore. In this context, the literature (CALIA, 2007; BRITTO, 2002; TERRA; PLONSK, 2006; AMATO NETO, 2005), seem to indicate that the networks seem to arise as the feasibility of the innovations offering suitable conditions for its development. In this way, the current research aims mainly to go deeper into the network transformation and comprehension. These networks are responsible for the interlink support, among the network exploration (the knowledge creation), and the network applying (applying and use of knowledge). Yet, it is searched how to identify possible practices and tools in the network transformation, which may accelerate the innovation process. The approach methodology used was a case study help in two interprises in the chemical field within Sao Paulo state. The case studies were examined according to the innovation process model in networks, proposed by Gobbo Junior and Olsson (2010), which describes the types of external, closed and network transformation, and identify the types of actors in the interface between the network exploration and innovation as well, occurring articlockwise compared to the shown model. The two researches help in both enterprises corroborated with data pointed out by the innovation model offered by Gobbo Junior and Olsson (2010), making it possible to identify not only the actors in the exploration and innovation networks but also the intermediate actors related to the process. It was also possible to identify the path of the innovation process in networks by such actors. In the first case, it is was the enterprise which moved along the network, while ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:33:50Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vitoreli_mc_me_bauru.pdf: 589676 bytes, checksum: cef1a3d0e23c4926909d7576a6ecc20b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A importância da prática de inovação, por parte das empresas, já está evidente na literatura (FREEMAN, 1982; HINDMOON, 2008; TAALITA et al., 2006), como um mecanismo eficiente no que diz respeito ao seu desenvolvimento, crescimento e lucratividade. Assim, o principal desafio passa a ser como praticar a inovação, e não mais em relação à sua importância. Neste contexto, a literatura (CALIA, 2007; BRITTO, 2002; TERRA; PLONSK, 2006; AMATO NETO, 2005) parece indicar que as redes surgem como uma forma de viabilização das inovações, podendo oferecer as condições necessárias ao seu desenvolvimento. Desta forma, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo central um aprofundamento na compreensão das redes de transformação. Essas redes são as responsáveis por auxiliar na interligação entre as redes de exploração (criação do conhecimento) e as redes de aplicação (aplicação e utilização do conhecimento). Buscar-se ainda identificar possíveis práticas e ferramentas presentes nas redes de transformação que possam acelerar o processo de inovação. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi o estudo de caso, realizado em duas empresas do setor químico do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os estudos de caso apresentados foram analisados, segundo o modelo de processo de inovação em redes proposto por Gobbo Júnior e Olsson (2010), que descrevem os tipos de redes abertas, fechadas e de transformação, bem como identificam os tipos de atores presentes na interface entre as redes de exploração e aplicação, sugerindo que a inovação é um processo em rede que ocorre em sentido horário ao modelo apresentado. As pesquisas realizadas nas duas empresas corroboraram com os dados apresentados pelo modelo de inovação proposto por Gobbo Júnior e Olsson (2010), em que foi possível identificar não apenas os atores presentes nas redes de exploração e aplicação, mas também os... / The importance of innovation practice by enterprises is already evident in literature (FREEMAN, 1982, HINDMOON, 2008; TAALITA et al., 2006), as an efficient mechanism concerning its development, growt and profit. then, the main challenge is how to practice such innovation, and not its importance anymore. In this context, the literature (CALIA, 2007; BRITTO, 2002; TERRA; PLONSK, 2006; AMATO NETO, 2005), seem to indicate that the networks seem to arise as the feasibility of the innovations offering suitable conditions for its development. In this way, the current research aims mainly to go deeper into the network transformation and comprehension. These networks are responsible for the interlink support, among the network exploration (the knowledge creation), and the network applying (applying and use of knowledge). Yet, it is searched how to identify possible practices and tools in the network transformation, which may accelerate the innovation process. The approach methodology used was a case study help in two interprises in the chemical field within Sao Paulo state. The case studies were examined according to the innovation process model in networks, proposed by Gobbo Junior and Olsson (2010), which describes the types of external, closed and network transformation, and identify the types of actors in the interface between the network exploration and innovation as well, occurring articlockwise compared to the shown model. The two researches help in both enterprises corroborated with data pointed out by the innovation model offered by Gobbo Junior and Olsson (2010), making it possible to identify not only the actors in the exploration and innovation networks but also the intermediate actors related to the process. It was also possible to identify the path of the innovation process in networks by such actors. In the first case, it is was the enterprise which moved along the network, while ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)