A learning process of the matching identification problem

Recently, Mehrez and Steinberg (1995) described and studied the matching identification problem (MIP). The MIP is a form of knowledge acquisition problem from the field of artificial intelligence. For instance, an expert system infers knowledge from a set of examples. But how do you most quickly acquire the examples that knowledge is inferred from? The MIP is a special case of this problem. Although an optimal algorithm was not found by Mehrez and Steinberg, they described two general types of heuristics. We describe in this paper an optimal algorithm for the case of K=2, and an improved heuristic for general K, which identifies a chosen subset with 6% fewer inquiries on average when N=15, K=3. The heuristic improves relative to the Type I heuristic as N increases, K held constant. The improved heuristic is concerned with the symbols yet unclassified as being in the chosen subset or not in the chosen subset. By inquiring subsets with all unclassified symbols, we most quickly "span" the set of unclassified numbers. Closed form equations are developed for the expected number of inquiries required and the variance of the number of inquiries required for the optimal algorithm. Computational studies are provided for Mehrez and Steinberg's Type I heuristics, the K=2 optimal algorithm, and the spanning heuristic.     

A first assessment of the SMOS data in southwestern France using in situ and airborne soil moisture estimates: The CAROLS airborne campaign

The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission, based on an aperture synthesis L-band radiometer was successfully launched in November 2009. In the context of a validation campaign for the SMOS mission, intensive airborne and in situ observations were performed in southwestern France for the SMOS CAL/VAL, from April to May 2009 and from April to July 2010. The CAROLS (Cooperative Airborne Radiometer for Ocean and Land Studies) bi-angular (34°-0°) and dual-polarized (V and H) L-band radiometer was designed, built and installed on board the French ATR-42 research aircraft. During springs of 2009 and 2010, soil moisture observations from the SMOSMANIA (Soil Moisture Observing System-Meteorological Automatic Network Integrated Application) network of Météo-France were complemented by airborne observations of the CAROLS L-band radiometer, following an Atlantic-Mediterranean transect in southwestern France. Additionally to the 12 stations of the SMOSMANIA soil moisture network, in situ measurements were collected in three specific sites within an area representative of a SMOS pixel. Microwave radiometer observations, acquired over southwestern France by the CAROLS instrument were analyzed in order to assess their sensitivity to surface soil moisture (w_g). A combination of microwave brightness temperature (T_b) at either two polarizations or two contrasting incidence angles was used to retrieve w_g through regressed empirical logarithmic equations with good results, depending on the chosen configuration. The regressions derived from the CAROLS measurements were applied to the SMOS T_b and their retrieval performance was evaluated. The retrievals of w_g showed significant correlation (p-value < 0.05) with surface measurements for most of the SMOSMANIA stations (8 of 12 stations) and with additional field measurements at two specific sites, also. Root mean square errors varied from 0.03 to 0.09 m³ m^− 3 (0.06 m³ m^− 3 on average).     

Pre-Silicon Verification Using Multi-FPGA Platforms: A Review

Because of the shrinking transistor size and improved design process, the computation capability of modern digital systems has increased tremendously over the past few years. This, however, has led to increased design complexity and huge verification efforts and costs. The design of new digital systems costs millions of dollars and the money is wasted if the final product does not serve the purpose. This has made pre-silicon verification even more pertinent as it can detect design faults prior to its roll out and can save companies a huge fortune. Pre-silicon verification now accounts for almost 70% of the total design effort and cost of modern digital systems. For pre-silicon verification, four techniques are commonly used namely simulation, emulation, virtual prototyping and FPGA-based prototyping. These techniques have their advantages and disadvantages. However, FPGA-based prototyping is unique in the sense it gives better speed and real world testing experience as compared to other pre-silicon verification techniques. In this paper, we give a detailed survey of multi-FPGA prototyping. A survey of three different multi-FPGA platforms namely off-the-shelf, custom, and cabling platform is presented in this work. A comprehensive overview of these platforms from hardware perspective is presented. Detailed discussion on their respective back end flow and the associated difference is also presented. The survey is concluded with a discussion on the challenges faced by multi-FPGA prototyping and the research opportunities where work can be done for further improvement.

     

PIXE analysis of medieval silver coins

We applied the proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analytical technique to twenty-eight medieval silver coins, selected from the Tunisian treasury. The purpose is to study the fineness evolution from the beginning of the 7th to the 15th centuries AD. Each silver coin was cleaned with a diluted acid solution and then exposed to a 3 MeV proton beam from a 1.7 MV tandem accelerator. To allow the simultaneous detection of light and heavy elements, a funny aluminum filter was positioned in front of the Si(Li) detector entrance which is placed at 135° to the beam direction. The elements Cu, Pb, and Au were observed in the studied coins along with the major component silver. The concentration of Ag, presumably the main constituent of the coins, varies from 55% to 99%. This significant variation in the concentration of the major constituent reveals the economical difficulties encountered by each dynasty. It could be also attributed to differences in the composition of the silver mines used to strike the coins in different locations. That fineness evolution also reflects the poor quality of the control practices during this medieval period. In order to verify the ability of PIXE analytical method to distinguish between apparently similar coins, we applied hierarchical cluster analysis to our results to classify them into different subgroups of similar elemental composition.     

Ultra‐microstructural features of perborate oxidized starch

Ultrafine structures of low, medium, and highly oxidized starches, symbolized as LOS, MOS, and HOS, respectively, were thoroughly investigated. These oxidized starches were obtained by treatment of native starch (NS) with three different concentrations of sodium perborate (SPB). Thus, obtained products were studied with respect to major chemical and fine physical characteristics vis‐a‐vis these of NS (a) acidic and reduced groups creation along with mode of association, (b) significant increase in solubility, and (c) outstanding decrease in apparent viscosity. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed thermal stability of the said substrates follows order: HOS > MOS > LOS > NS. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed polygonal or irregular shape with particle size ranging from 2 to 20 μ. After oxidation, the starch surface became rough and the edges lost their definiteness completely. In conclusion, SPB is an efficient oxidant to produce oxidized starches with useful characteristics, which advocate them to wide applications in textile sizing and medicinal domains. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40170.     

Hybrid solar still by heat pump compression

Our study is related to an experimental work and modelling of a simple solar still (SSS), green house type, asymmetrical and a hybrid system of a solar still connected to a heat pump (SSSHP). Simple solar stills have in general very low efficiency and our study aims in improving that incorporation by heat pump. This will increase vapor condensation, improve efficiency and consequently the output per m² of still surface area. Data obtained from our experimental research are used to determine convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients such as the experimental and theoretical efficiencies. The nom of the hybrid system is HSSHP. Daily output increased from 2 l/m² for the SSS up to 12 l/m² for the HSSHP and average efficiency increased from 20% to 80%.     

Fuzzy control of a swells canal system

This work forms a part of the research undertaken on the maritime developments behaviour submitted to the action of sea waves. To succeed in this objective, we have conceived and achieved a system of artificial wave generation in a swells channel (channel of 37.5 m of length, 1 m of width and 1 m of depth). Indeed, the simulation of swells on scale model has many advantages. We can mention the construction of dykes for the protection of ports, the didactic interest of conception and generation of new models of waves and the construction of boat shells. The installed canal has to achieve tests of developments stability in the domain of the maritime hydraulics. Every work or scale model is constituted of several layers of ripraps of shapes and well-determined relative density. Thus, the survey of stability consists in reproducing in similitude (scale 1/20) in the swells canal to observe their effects on the holding of riprap (accumulation of boulder) or the artificial blocks of the scale model. Otherwise, the modelling of the process of swell generation is described by complicated physical laws and requires important means of computation. To solve this problem, we have conceived a system based on fuzzy logic permitting to assure the generation of coherent command data with the statistical parameters characterizing the oceanic waves, and to guarantee its conformity to the model of Pierson Moskowich spectrum.     

Adaptive terminal sliding mode control for rigid robotic manipulators

In order to apply the terminal sliding mode control to robot manipulators, prior knowledge of the exact upper bound of parameter uncertainties, and external disturbances is necessary. However, this bound will not be easily determined because of the complexity and unpredictability of the structure of uncertainties in the dynamics of the robot. To resolve this problem in robot control, we propose a new robust adaptive terminal sliding mode control for tracking problems in robotic manipulators. By applying this adaptive controller, prior knowledge is not required because the controller is able to estimate the upper bound of uncertainties and disturbances. Also, the proposed controller can eliminate the chattering effect without losing the robustness property. The stability of the control algorithm can be easily verified by using Lyapunov theory. The proposed controller is tested in simulation on a two-degree-of-freedom robot to prove its effectiveness.