31472915
Using Hermes-F: experiences with a framework for developing information retrieval applications
Hermes-F is a framework that enables the development of applications that perform information retrieval (IR) tasks. Its central component is an extensible server that provides access to a variety of IR models, query transformations and digital collections. We have successfully instantiated our proposed framework by implementing a fully operational IR server that is accessed from various digital library applications. We describe the Hermes-F environment and focus on our results of using and extending the available IR models for diverse collections.
1477944
HyperActive: extending an open hypermedia architecture to support agency
Agency and hypermedia have both been suggested as powerful means to cope with future information management and human-computer interaction requirements. However, research projects have included interface agents only marginally in the context of hypermedia systems. This article proposes a set of criteria for characterizing interface agents and offers a perspective view of ongoing research in the field using those criteria as a framework. The need to provide a supporting infrastructure that facilitates testing and experimentation of interface agents is stressed. The article describes an existing open hypermedia architecture and introduces an extended architecture that includes provisions to support the development and operation of interface agents. A prototype instantiating this system architecture is presented, as well as an initial assessment of the potential and requirements of interface agents in a hypermedia environment.
5575203
X-tract: structure extraction from botanical textual descriptions
Most available information today, both from printed books and digital repositories, is in the form of free-format texts. The task of retrieving information from these ever-growing repositories has become a challenge for information retrieval (IR) researchers. In some fields, such as botany and taxonomy, textual descriptions observe a set of rules and use a relatively limited vocabulary. This makes botanical textual descriptions an interesting area to explore IR techniques for finding structure and facilitating semantic analysis. This paper presents X-tract, a solution to the problem of text analysis and structure extraction in a specific application domain, namely floristic morphologic descriptions. The solution demonstrates the potential of using a grammar in the determination of information structure in a botanical digital library. We have developed a prototype based on this approach in which given an HTML or plain text, X-tract analyzes it and presents results to the user so he or she can verify the proposed structure before updating the database. This transformation is useful also in the process of storing morphologic descriptions in a database with a preestablished format. The solution is implemented in the context of the Floristic Digital Library (FDL), a large digital library project comprising a wide variety of botanical documents, formats and services.
2749515
PARAgente: Exploring the Issues in Agent-Based User Interfaces
Alternative styles for human-computer interaction and human-human computer-mediated communication are needed to assist users in dealing with the ever-growing and complex information spaces at their disposal. PARAgente is a comprehensive research initiative aimed at investigating the issues, requirements and potential of interfaces which are based on user agents. This paper discusses major issues that must be addressed if agents are to become accepted by users in their interaction with computer systems. A testbed designed to explore these issues in the context of an open hypermedia system is also presented.
23700051
Fourth-phase digital libraries: pacing, linking, annotating and citing in multimedia collections
We discuss the implications of the use of current multimedia collections and posit that it is possible to build what we term fourth-phase digital libraries (4PDLs). In 4PDLs users can take advantage of both the powerful audiovisual channels and the proven practices developed for media such as text. We demonstrate how various technologies can be integrated to produce a 4PDL.
1924989
MiBiblio: personal spaces in a digital library universe
This paper describes MiBiblio, a highly personalizable interface to large collections in digital libraries. MiBiblio allows users to create virtual places we term personal spaces. As users find useful items in the repositories, they organize these items and keep them handy in their personal spaces for future use. Personal spaces may also be updated by user agents.
39021049
Current status of the SWISS-2DPAGE database
The SWISS-2DPAGE database (http: //www.expasy.ch/ch2d/ch2d-top.html ) consists of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis images, as well as textual descriptions of the proteins that have been identified on them. The current release contains 15 reference maps from human biological samples, as well as from Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Escherichia coli and Dictyostelium discoideum origin. These reference maps have 2088 identified spots, corresponding to 410 separate protein entries in the database, in addition to virtual entries for each SWISS-PROT sequence.
7156344
A New Architecture for Deriving Dynamic Brain-Machine Interfaces
Great potential exists for future Brain Machine Interfaces (BMIs) to help paralyzed patients, and others with motor disabilities, regain (artificial) motor control and autonomy. This paper describes a novel approach towards the development of new design architectures and research test-beds for advanced BMIs. It addresses a critical design challenge in deriving the functional mapping between the subject’s movement intent and actuated behavior. Currently, adaptive signal processing techniques are used to correlate neuronal modulation with known movements generated by the subject. However, with patients who are paralyzed, access to the individual’s movement is unavailable. Inspired by motor control research, this paper considers a predictive framework for BMI using multiple adaptive models trained with supervised or reinforcement learning in a closed-loop architecture that requires real-time feedback. Here, movement trajectories can be inferred and incrementally updated using instantaneous knowledge of the movement target and the individual’s current neuronal activation. In this framework, BMIs require a computing infrastructure capable of selectively executing multiple models on the basis of signals received by and/or provided to the brain in real time. Middleware currently under investigation to provide this data-driven dynamic capability is discussed.
361845
Divide-and-conquer approach for brain machine interfaces: nonlinear mixture of competitive linear models
This paper proposes a divide-and-conquer strategy for designing brain machine interfaces. A nonlinear combination of competitively trained local linear models (experts) is used to identify the mapping from neuronal activity in cortical areas associated with arm movement to the hand position of a primate. The proposed architecture and the training algorithm are described in detail and numerical performance comparisons with alternative linear and nonlinear modeling approaches, including time-delay neural networks and recursive multilayer perceptrons, are presented. This new strategy allows training the local linear models using normalized LMS and using a relatively smaller nonlinear network to efficiently combine the predictions of the linear experts. This leads to savings in computational requirements, while the performance is still similar to a large fully nonlinear network.
7626983
Intelligent Remote Monitoring
Intelligent monitoring facilities are of paramount importance in both service and network management as they provide the capability to monitor quality of service and utilisation parameters and notify degradations so that corrective action can be taken. By intelligent, we refer to the capability of performing the monitoring tasks in a way that has the smallest possible impact on the managed network, facilitates the observation and summarisation of information according to a number of criteria and, in its most advanced form, permits the specification of these criteria dynamically to suit the particular policy in hand. The OSI management metric monitoring and summarisation management functions provide models that only partially satisfy the above requirements. This paper describes our extensions to the proposed models to support further capabilities, with the intention to eventually lead to fully dynamically defined monitoring policies. The concept of distributing intelligence is also discussed, including the consideration of security issues and the applicability of the model in CORBA-based environments.
6491207
Florida Wireless Implantable Recording Electrodes (FWIRE) for Brain Machine Interfaces
This paper reviews on-going efforts towards the development of the Florida wireless implantable recording electrodes (FWIRE). The FWIRE microsystem platform is a fully implantable flexible substrate microelectrode array that employs state-of-the-art integrate-and-fire (IF) signal representation and wireless interface circuitry for recording neural activity from behaving rodents. The modular nature of the implantable neural recording electrode allows future enhancements to be seamlessly added to improve functionality including but not limited to rechargeability through inductive coupling, custom microelectrode arrays, higher capacity batteries, and more advanced integrated circuit technologies. This paper concentrates on custom integrated circuits such as neural interfacing amplifiers, baseband signal processing, wireless data and power interfaces, and battery management system.