Ileana Hamburg*, Adrian Hamburg
* Institute for Work and Technology, WH Gelsenkirchen (e-mail: hamburg@iat.eu)

Abstract: Small and medium sized companies (SMEs) contribute to more on half of the European value-added by business and are primarily responsible for economic growth. Many of them have difficulties in facing todays challenges also due to technological, economic and financial changes and skill shortage. Mentoring approaches together with suitable learning methods can be organised to address aspects like knowledge gaps and shortage skills. This article focuses on different aspects of learning and mentoring in SMEs. One of the examples is the project Net Knowing 2.0 (http://www.netknowing.com/) aiming to help SMEs to turn their daily work into a source of corporate learning for all their employees and to support KT by efficient use of informal learning and ICT and introducing a mentoring approach.
Keywords: economic growth, informal learning, mentoring approaches.

Dan Adrian Marior*
* Department of Automation, Electronics and Mechatronics, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Street, RO-200440 Craiova, Romania (e-mail: marior.adi@gmail.com).

Abstract: The present paper presents the author's approach on studying one of the existing plant/production processes in the Ford factories across the world, in order to automate it through applied research. This process has been put in place to deal with exceptional situations such as changes in the usual day to day life of the factory. The designers of the Manage the Change process (MTC) took into consideration modifications that directly impact on the production process and those which do not. The process turned out to be very complicated to automate (in part due to the human element) and it is not the only one of its kind.
Keywords: Manage-the-Change process, workflow.

Ileana-Diana V.D. Nicolae*, Petre-Marian T. Nicolae**, Marian-Stefan P.M. Nicolae**
* Department of Computers and Information Technology (e-mail:nicolae_ileana@software.ucv.ro)
** Department of Electrical Engineering, Power Systems and Aeronautics (e-mail:pnicolae@elth.ucv.ro, snicolae@elth.ucv.ro) University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd.

Abstract: The paper deals with the logic, implementation and testing of original algorithms that provide a fast identification of harmonic disturbances when they pollute a monitored signal which in stationary state is characterized by periodical medium distortions. Unlike Fourier-based techniques, the identification requires for the harmonic identification only a small number of samples, corresponding to three quarters from a period of the monitored signal. The algorithms use the details vectors corresponding to the first 9 levels from a decomposition tree generated with 3 different original hybrid wavelet-based algorithms (relying on filters of length 4, 6 and 8). We identified the "key-features" of the details vectors and combined them such as to form "harmonic fingerprints", afterward stored in a partitioned matrix (MHF) along with the harmonic orders responsible for their generation. Using MHF, 30000 tests considering randomly generated polluting harmonics demonstrated that the mean run-time consumed for the harmonic order identification was reduced by a factor in the range (3.44...4.54). Percents under 0.15% of "absent fingerprint" situations were noticed, the algorithms being provided with intelligent additional execution branches to deal with them. The modest additional memory requirements and good run-time related performances, along with their relative simple implementation recommend the algorithms as valuable tools in real-time applications for power quality monitoring and fault identification.
Keywords: search methods, signal processing algorithms, fault detection and identification, frequency signal analysis, harmonics, wavelet analysis.

Mihaela Oprea*, Madalina Carbureanu**, Elia Georgiana Dragomir***
* Department of Automatic Control, Computer Science and Electronics, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania (e-mail: mihaela@ upg-ploiesti.ro)
** Department of Automatic Control, Computer Science and Electronics, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania, (e-mail: mcarbureanu@upg-ploiesti.ro)
*** Department of Information Technology, Mathematics and Physics, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania (e-mail: elia.dragomir@yahoo.com)

Abstract: The paper presents a multi-agent system, AirQMAS, developed for air quality analysis at different stations from the Romanian national air quality monitoring network. The multi-agent system includes collaborative agents that work together in order to improve the overall efficiency of the system. Two types of agents are used: environmental agents and meteorological agents. The learning capability is provided to the environmental agents, that use rules generated by the C5.0 data mining algorithm for the analysis of air quality index. A first version of the system was implemented in Zeus, and was tested as a simulation for a local network of 6 stations from the Ploiesti town, analyzing the concentrations of some air pollutants.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, agents, collaborative systems, machine learning, environmental engineering, air pollution.

D. Popescu*, S. Nowakowski**, N. Bernard-Issenmann**, H. Yahoui***, D. Selisteanu*
* University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd, Craiova, ROMANIA, (phone: +40-251-436999; fax: +40-251-436999; e-mail: dorinp@robotics.ucv.ro)
** PRES de l'Université de Lorraine, NUTICE, 34 cours Léopold, 54056 Nancy, FRANCE
*** Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 41, Boulevard Andre Latarjet, 69622 Villeurbanne, FRANCE.

Abstract: In this paper we present the methodology that we have adopted in order to propose recommendations for e-learning related to the objectives of ELLEIEC project. First, we present the general context and then we expose the different steps of the study which lead to e-learning recommendations for the Virtual Entrepreneurship Center.
Keywords: lifelong learning, thematic network, e-learning.

Monica Roman*
* Department of Automatic Control, Electronics and Mechatronics, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania, (e-mail: monica@automation.ucv.ro)

Abstract: This paper deals with the pseudo bond graph modelling and the design of an asymptotic state observer for an ethanol production bioprocess. The bond graph model of the process is obtained by developing a set of rules, starting from the reactions schemes and taking into account the biochemical phenomena. Then, the unavailable states of the bioprocess are reconstituted from the measurable states by using an asymptotic observer, which is designed without the knowledge of the kinetics being necessary. Finally, a nonlinear estimation strategy is developed for the identification of unknown kinetics of the bioprocess, by using an observer based estimator. Several numerical simulations are conducted in order to test the performance of the proposed estimation algorithms.
Keywords: bond graphs, bioinformatics, nonlinear systems, observers.

Dorin Gh. Sendrescu*
* Department of Automatic Control, Electronics and Mechatronics, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania, (e-mail: dorins@automation.ucv.ro)

Abstract: In this paper one presents an algorithm for a DC motor parameters identification from sample data using the distribution approach. While most of the latest methods used in identification utilize a discrete-time model, the distribution method is an alternative approach to directly identify a continuous-time model from discrete-time data. The relation between the state variables is represented by functionals using techniques from distribution theory. Based on these relations, an algorithm for off-line parameter identification is developed. The method is applied to identify the parameters of a real experimental platform.
Keywords: parameter identification, DC motor, distributions.

Liana Stanescu, Dumitru Sorina, Cosmin Stoica-Spahiu, Dumitru-Dan Burdescu*
* Department of Computers and Information Technology, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd. Romania (e-mail{stanescu, burdescu, stoica.cosmin}@software.ucv.ro).

Abstract: The paper presents an original dedicated integrated software system for managing and querying alphanumerical information and images. The system is designed with a modularized architecture which is based on a relational database management server. The system is updated with new algorithms from MPEG 7 for image processing and retrieval. The studies made for the implemented algorithms, have shown that the results obtained by combining the Color Layout, Dominant Color and Texture Edge Histogram descriptors, improved the performance. The visual manner of building this type of query specific for multimedia data and the modified Select command that is sent for execution to the MMDBMS give originality to the software product.
Keywords: image retrieval, image processing, MPEG7 descriptors.

Razvan Tanasie *
* Department of Computers and Information Technology, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd. Romania (e-mail: rtanasie@software.ucv.ro).

Abstract: An enhanced graphics render engine was developed using Microsoft C++ and DirectX API. This engine is part of a multi-purpose platform which, in this case, I used to simulate a two-level fuzzy clustering algorithm. The first level of the fuzzy system receives as inputs economical and financial statistical data provided by Eurostat and computes fuzzy membership values, using the Euclidian distance between clusters. The second level computes the optimal number of clusters. This is done in order to optimize the values of a set of statistic economical pre-selected factors. The final result is rendered using the graphic platform developed.
Keywords: clustering, graphics engine, fuzzy systems, European Union, simulation.

Dan-Costin Tusaliu*, Ovidiu Mirica, Adrian-Gabriel Neatu*
* Department of Computers and Information Technology, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd. Romania (e-mail: {tusaliu, neatu}@software.ucv.ro).

Abstract: This paper focuses on the new trends in the new media and on the way how information is gathered and visualized by people. Starting from here the authors want to propose an open source application in order to help people in this perspective. RSS technology is considerably more attractive to users looking for information in multiple places on multiple sites or news portals. JRSSReader will be an open-source project and everyone who knows the Java programming language can help improve the application.
Keywords: RSS, Java, XML, open source, SQL, database, HTML, web application.

Anca Loredana (Ion) Udristoiu*, Stefan Udristoiu*
* Department of Computers and Information Technology, University of Craiova, 107 Decebal Blvd. Romania (e-mail: aion@software.ucv.ro).

Abstract: This paper is a part of a complex study for automatic detection of medical image diagnostic. Thus, a method based on Gaussian statistical model is developed for medical image segmentation. Due to its computation complexity, we used also a method for the Gaussian model simplification using the hierarchical clustering. At the end of this process, an image is represented as a mixture of Gaussian components. The experiments were realized on a medical database, which contains images obtained through different medical proceedings: endoscopy, radiology, magnetic resonance imaging, etc. Keywords: image segmentation, image color, image texture, Gaussian mixture model.