scholarly journals Machine learning, artificial neural networks and social research

Author(s):  
Giovanni Di Franco ◽  
Michele Santurro

Abstract Machine learning (ML), and particularly algorithms based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), constitute a field of research lying at the intersection of different disciplines such as mathematics, statistics, computer science and neuroscience. This approach is characterized by the use of algorithms to extract knowledge from large and heterogeneous data sets. In addition to offering a brief introduction to ANN algorithms-based ML, in this paper we will focus our attention on its possible applications in the social sciences and, in particular, on its potential in the data analysis procedures. In this regard, we will provide three examples of applications on sociological data to assess the impact of ML in the study of relationships between variables. Finally, we will compare the potential of ML with traditional data analysis models.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (Issue 3) ◽  
pp. 76-89
Author(s):  
Cagdas Hakan Aladag

One of the biggest problems in using artificial neural networks is to determine the best architecture. This is a crucial problem since there are no general rules to select the best architecture structure. Selection of the best architecture is to determine how many neurons should be used in the layers of a network. It is a well-known fact that using a proper architecture structure directly affect the performance of the method. Therefore, various approaches ranging from trial and error method to heuristic optimization algorithms have been suggested to solve this problem in the literature. Although there have been systematical approaches in the literature, trial and error method has been widely used in various applications to find a good architecture. This study propose a new architecture selection method based on statistical and machine learning. The proposed method utilizes regression analysis that is a supervised learning technique in machine learning. In this new architecture selection approach, it is aimed to combine statistical and machine learning to reach good architectures which has high performance. The proposed approach brings a new perspective since it is possible to perform statistical hypothesis tests and to statistically evaluate the obtained results when artificial neural networks are used. The best architecture structure can be statistically determined in the proposed approach. In addition to this, the proposed approach provides some important advantages. This is the first study using a statistical method to utilize statistical hypothesis tests in artificial neural networks. Using regression analysis is easy to use so applying the proposed method is also easy. And, the proposed approach saves time since the best architecture is determined by regression analysis. Furthermore, it is possible to make inference for architectures which is not examined. The proposed approach is applied to three real data sets to show the applicability of the approach. The obtained results show that the proposed method gives very satisfactory results for real data sets.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1654
Author(s):  
Poojitha Vurtur Badarinath ◽  
Maria Chierichetti ◽  
Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki

Current maintenance intervals of mechanical systems are scheduled a priori based on the life of the system, resulting in expensive maintenance scheduling, and often undermining the safety of passengers. Going forward, the actual usage of a vehicle will be used to predict stresses in its structure, and therefore, to define a specific maintenance scheduling. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can be used to map a reduced set of data coming from real-time measurements of a structure into a detailed/high-fidelity finite element analysis (FEA) model of the same system. As a result, the FEA-based ML approach will directly estimate the stress distribution over the entire system during operations, thus improving the ability to define ad-hoc, safe, and efficient maintenance procedures. The paper initially presents a review of the current state-of-the-art of ML methods applied to finite elements. A surrogate finite element approach based on ML algorithms is also proposed to estimate the time-varying response of a one-dimensional beam. Several ML regression models, such as decision trees and artificial neural networks, have been developed, and their performance is compared for direct estimation of the stress distribution over a beam structure. The surrogate finite element models based on ML algorithms are able to estimate the response of the beam accurately, with artificial neural networks providing more accurate results.


Author(s):  
Odysseas Kontovourkis ◽  
Marios C. Phocas ◽  
Ifigenia Lamprou

AbstractNowadays, on the basis of significant work carried out, architectural adaption structures are considered to be intelligent entities, able to react to various internal or external influences. Their adaptive behavior can be examined in a digital or physical environment, generating a variety of alternative solutions or structural transformations. These are controlled through different computational approaches, ranging from interactive exploration ones, producing alternative emergent results, to automate optimization ones, resulting in acceptable fitting solutions. This paper examines the adaptive behavior of a kinetic structure, aiming to explore suitable solutions resulting in final appropriate shapes during the transformation process. A machine learning methodology that implements an artificial neural networks algorithm is integrated to the suggested structure. The latter is formed by units articulated together in a sequential composition consisting of primary soft mechanisms and secondary rigid components that are responsible for its reconfiguration and stiffness. A number of case studies that respond to unstructured environments are set as examples, to test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology to be used for handling a large number of input data and to optimize the complex and nonlinear transformation behavior of the kinetic system at the global level, as a result of the units’ local activation that influences nearby units in a chaotic and unpredictable manner.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-161
Author(s):  
Allag Fateh ◽  
Saddek Bouharati ◽  
Lamri Tedjar ◽  
Mohamed Fenni

Because of their fixed life and wide distribution, plants are the first victims of air pollution. The atmosphere is considered polluted when the increase of the rate of certain components causes harmful effects on the different constituents of the ecosystems. The study of the flow of air near a polluting source (cement plant in our case), allows to predict its impact on the surrounding plant ecosystem. Different factors are to be considered. The chemical composition of the air, the climatic conditions, and the impacted plant species are complex parameters to be analyzed using conventional mathematical methods. In this study, we propose a system based on artificial neural networks. Since artificial neural networks have the capacity to treat different complex parameters, their application in this domain is adequate. The proposed system makes it possible to match the input and output spaces. The variables that constitute the input space are the chemical composition, the concentration of the latter in the rainwater, their duration of deposition on the leaves and stems, the climatic conditions characterizing the environment, as well as the species of plant studied. The output variable expresses the rate of degradation of this species under the effect of pollution. Learning the system makes it possible to establish the transfer function and thus predict the impact of pollutants on the vegetation.


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