Clustering biomedical and gene expression datasets with kernel density and unique neighborhood set based vein detection

It is a crucial need for a clustering technique to produce high-quality clusters from biomedical and gene expression datasets without requiring any user inputs. Therefore, in this paper we present a clustering technique called KUVClust that produces high-quality clusters when applied on biomedical and gene expression datasets without requiring any user inputs. The KUVClust algorithm uses three concepts namely multivariate kernel density estimation, unique closest neighborhood set and vein-based clustering. Although these concepts are known in the literature, KUVClust combines the concepts in a novel manner to achieve high-quality clustering results. The performance of KUVClust is compared with established clustering techniques on real-world biomedical and gene expression datasets. The comparisons were evaluated in terms of three criteria (purity, entropy, and sum of squared error (SSE)). Experimental results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed technique over the existing techniques for clustering both the low dimensional biomedical and high dimensional gene expressions datasets used in the experiments.     

Relating video game exposure,sensation seeking,aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance

ABSTRACT

The time displacement hypothesis has been widely used to explain the effects of media use on academic performance. This approach has been criticised for its monocausality and weak explanatory power. Utilising a combination of different theoretical perspectives is better suited than utilising only one. Considering displacement, excitement, attraction and third variable hypothesis, this paper argues that the relation between video game use and school performance is not the same for all types of gamers by considering the influence of socioeconomic, psychological and contextual factors. It investigates how gaming patterns (frequency, time of day) and psychological characteristics (sensation seeking, aggression) are related to academic performance for primary and secondary school students. Five hundred and seven students from five primary and four secondary schools in Singapore participated in a paper-pencil survey. Results showed support for a combination of displacement and third variable hypothesis, as overall time spent on video games was negatively associated with primary school children’s and active gamers’ school performances. There was no significant relationship for secondary school children. For primary school children who play games in the morning and afternoon, video game use was negatively associated with school performance. There was no support for the attraction and excitement hypotheses.     

宽带数字接收机IQ不平衡估计与自适应补偿算法

针对宽带调制解调技术中广泛存在的IQ不平衡问题,在IQ不平衡模型及补偿原理的分析基础上提出了一种宽带数字接收机IQ不平衡估计与自适应补偿算法。首先利用解调数据对IQ不平衡参数进行实时估计,然后利用估计参数对接收信号进行自适应补偿。实验结果表明,所提算法可以有效解决宽带调制解调系统中普遍存在的IQ不平衡问题,提升系统误码性能。     

Structure of presented stimuli influences gazing behavior and choice

Well-structured stimuli presentation is essential in eye-tracking research to test predefined hypotheses reliably and to conduct relevant gazing behavior studies. Several bottom-up factors associated with stimuli presentation (such as stimuli orientation, size etc.) can influence gazing behavior. However, only a small number of scientific papers address these factors in a sensory and consumer science context and thus provide guidance to practitioners. The two presented eye-tracking studies on food images aimed at evaluating the effect of the bottom-up factors stimulus size, background of the picture, orientation of food product presentation, the evaluated products and the number of alternatives. Significant effects of product group were found in the case of all eye-movement parameters except time to first fixation and first fixation duration. In contrary, orientation significantly influenced only the time to first fixation and first fixation duration parameters. Stimulus size significantly increased fixation and dwell count, while background showed no significant effects. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between the number of presented images and eye-movement and decision time. Less time was needed in 2AFC (alternative forced choice test), 3AFC and 4AFC and significantly more time was needed to choose one alternative out of 7AFC and 8AFC. The results of the two studies show that the investigated bottom-up factors can significantly influence gazing behavior, and therefore need to be carefully considered when planning or comparing results of eye-tracking experiments.     

A novel low-latency DRAM based on the bitline-discharge rate

As well known by computer architects, the performance gap between the processor and the memory has been increasing over the years. This causes what is known as the memory wall. In order to alleviate the problem, a novel fast readout scheme is proposed in this article for the single-transistor single-capacitor dynamic random-access memory (1T-1C DRAM) cells. The proposed scheme works in the current domain in which the difference between the discharging rates of the bitline in the cases of ‘1’ and ‘0’ readings is detected. The proposed scheme is analysed quantitatively and compared with the conventional readout scheme. It is verified by simulation adopting the 45 nm CMOS Berkley predictive-technology model (BPTM) and shows 44 and 7.7% reductions in the average read-access and cycle times, respectively, as compared to the conventional readout scheme. It is also shown that the power is saved according to the proposed scheme if the probability of occurrence of ‘0’ storage exceeds 66.7%. This minimum value can be alleviated, however, at the expense of a smaller saving in the average read-access time. The impacts of process variations and technology scaling are also taken into account.     

Black hole entropy,the black hole information paradox,and time travel paradoxes from a new perspective

ABSTRACT

Relatively simple but apparently novel ways are proposed for viewing three related subjects: black hole entropy, the black hole information paradox, and time travel paradoxes. (1) Gibbons and Hawking have completely explained the origin of the entropy of all black holes, including physical black holes – nonextremal and in 3-dimensional space – if one can identify their Euclidean path integral with a true thermodynamic partition function (ultimately based on microstates). An example is provided of a theory containing this feature. (2) There is unitary quantum evolution with no loss of information if the detection of Hawking radiation is regarded as a measurement process within the Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics. (3) The paradoxes of time travel evaporate when exposed to the light of quantum physics (again within the Everett interpretation), with quantum fields properly described by a path integral over a topologically nontrivial but smooth manifold.     

Dynamic tensile mechanical properties and failure mode of zirconium diboride-silicon carbide ceramic composites

Dynamic indirect tension experiments were performed on zirconium diboride-silicon carbide (ZrB₂−20%SiC) ceramic. Flattened Brazilian disc specimens of ZrB₂−20%SiC were prepared to conduct dynamic tensile tests using the modified Split Hopkinson pressure bar system. The tensile experiments were completed at the range of loading rates from 7.53 to 74.71 GP s⁻¹. The tensile experimental results revealed that the zirconium diboride-silicon carbide ceramic composite is rate-sensitive in terms of the tensile strength and failure mode. The dynamic tensile strength increases linearly with the loading rate and changes from 195 MPa at 7.53 GP s⁻¹ to 654 MPa at 74.71 GP s⁻¹. Moreover, the dynamic tensile strength decreases with the increase in critical fracture time, which conforms to Tuler and Butcher's fracture criterion. In dynamic experiments, a high-speed camera was used to examine the tensile failure process, and fragments were collected to analyze the dynamic tensile failure mechanism. The tensile fracture mode of ZrB₂−20%SiC obviously showed the sensitivity of the loading rate. The fragment size of ZrB₂−20%SiC ceramic decreased but the quantity of fragments increased as the loading rate increased.     

基于多变量时间序列及向量自回归机器学习模型的水驱油藏产量预测方法

提出了一种基于多变量时间序列(MTS)及向量自回归(VAR)机器学习模型的水驱油藏产量预测方法,并进行了实例应用。该方法在井网分析的基础上通过MTS分析对注采井组数据进行优选,并将井组内不同采出井产油量及注入井注水量作为彼此相关的时间序列,通过建立VAR模型从多个时间序列中提取出相互作用规律,挖掘注采井间流量的依赖关系从而进行产量预测。水驱油藏历史生产数据分析结果表明,与数值模拟历史拟合结果相比,机器学习模型产量预测结果具有更高精度,同时不确定性分析提升了预测结果的安全性。通过脉冲响应分析对注入井的采油贡献量进行评价,可为注水开发方案调整提供理论指导。