Human uncertainty in explicit user feedback and its impact on the comparative evaluations of accurate prediction and personalisation

ABSTRACT

In this article, we report on the lack of reliability of explicit user feedback and its interpretation in the light of system evaluation. It is known, that given feedback strongly depends on the situational context. But also when many contextual factors are held constant, user feedback still proves to be unreliable. This impacts the evaluation of predictive algorithms since it is not clear whether a deviation between a user response and its corresponding prediction can be seen as a flaw by the system or just as usual ‘human uncertainty’. As a result, the perspective on the evaluation of adaptive systems basically changes. The main goal of this article is to demonstrate that simply increasing the amount of explicit feedback is not the key to sustainable system design innovation, as long as that information is not appropriately evaluated. To this end, we will exploit a novel probabilistic approach of processing user feedback and identify biasing effects on accuracy metrics, error probabilities for system rankings as well as natural limitations of evaluation. Finally, we will discuss possible solution strategies and give advice for handling explicit user feedback that is associated with uncertainty.     

2.3–21 GHz broadband and high linearity distributed low noise amplifier

This paper focuses on the design of a 2.3–21 GHz Distributed Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) with low noise figure (NF), high gain (S₂₁), and high linearity (IIP3) for broadband applications. This distributed amplifier (DA) includes S/C/X/Ku/K-band, which makes it very suitable for heterodyne receivers. The proposed DA uses a 0.18 μm GaAs pHEMT process (OMMIC ED02AH) in cascade architecture with lines adaptation and equalization of phase velocity techniques, to absorb their parasitic capacitances into the gate and drain transmission lines in order to achieve wide bandwidth and to enhance gain and linearity. The proposed broadband DA achieved an excellent gain in the flatness of 13.5 ± 0.2 dB, a low noise figure of 3.44 ± 1.12 dB, and a small group delay variation of ±19.721 ps over the range of 2.3–21 GHz. The input and output reflection coefficients S₁₁ and S₂₂ are less than −10 dB. The input compression point (P_1dB) and input third-order intercept point (IIP3) are −1.5 dBm and 11.5 dBm, respectively at 13 GHz. The dissipated power is 282 mW and the core layout size is 2.2 × 0.8 mm².     

Frequency domain analysis of the mirror-modified filtered-x least mean squares algorithm with low ambient noise

The mirror-modified filtered-x least mean squares (MMFxLMS ) algorithm is a variation of the FxLMS algorithm with online secondary path modeling that cannot diverge due to secondary path modeling errors. However, problems may occur when the ambient noise is not limited due to insufficient modeling power. This work shows that under a frequency domain analysis without ambient noise, the MMFxLMS algorithm is always stable, and expressions for the maximum residual noise level at any given time are obtained. It is also shown that, under the same context, convergence to the minimum residual noise is guaranteed. Still, convergence can be much slower for high secondary path modeling errors than that of the LMS or MFxLMS algorithms. Simulations confirm these results.     

Pd coated one-dimensional Ag nanostructures: Controllable architecture and their electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media

One-dimensional (1D) metal-coated Pd structures are efficient catalysts for the ethanol electro-oxidation and promising strategy for minimizing the Pd-loading toward commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). Herein, the decorated and core-shell architectures of a novel Pd coating on Ag nanowires (PdAg-NWs) are controllable by a two-step polyol method based on the galvanic replacement reaction. The integration of uniform shell with a low Pd concentration and partial hollow structure onto 1D PdAg-NWs exhibits the highest efficiency for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in alkaline solution. In comparison with Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs/C), the PdAgNWs/C performes 11 times superior EOR activity, and the onset potential shifts 80 mV negatively. The presence of Ag in PdAg-NWs enhances the absorption capacity of ethanol molecules and hydroxyl ions on the active sites, and improves the catalyst tolerance to CO-like intermediates, making them a potential anodic catalyst for DEFCs.     

Materials aspects associated with the addition of up to 20 mol% hydrogen into an existing natural gas distribution network

The introduction of hydrogen into the UK natural gas main has been reviewed in terms of how materials within the gas distribution network may be affected by contact with up to 80% Natural Gas (NG)/20 mol% hydrogen blend at up to 2 barg. A range of metallic, polymeric and elastomeric materials in the gas distribution network (GDN) were assessed via a combination of literature review and targeted practical test programmes.The work considered:? The effect of hydrogen on metallic materials identified in the network.? The effect of hydrogen on polymeric materials identified in the network.? The effect of hydrogen exposure on polyethylene pipeline joining and repair techniques (squeeze-off, and socket and saddle electrofusion joints)The experimental work involved soaking materials, under pressure conditions representative of the network, in 100% hydrogen, 20% hydrogen in methane, and 100% methane. For the metal samples, the test programme involved the assessment of hydrogen uptake on the tensile properties. For the polyethylene samples, the test programme looked at the assessment of possible hydrogen absorption/desorption and its effect on electrofusion jointing.The trials concluded that the majority of metallic materials showed no significant deterioration in mechanical (tensile) properties when stored in hydrogen environments compared to those stored in analogous methane or blended gas atmospheres up to 2 barg. Polymeric materials showed no deterioration to efficiency of squeeze-off or collar electrofusion in socket or shoulder orientations following soaking in hydrogen, methane or hydrogen blends.     

Volatile organic compound profiles of yoghurt produced from cow's milk with different somatic cell counts

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) of raw cow's milk on the volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles of yoghurt. Test yoghurt samples were produced from three batches of cow's milk with low, medium and high SCC, respectively. The VOCs were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. A lower diacetyl and acetoin content and a higher content of 2‐heptanone, and butanoic and hexanoic acids were established in the yoghurt samples from batches with high SCC of above 1 000 000 cells/cm³. The increased SCC of cow's milk had a negative effect on the volatile organic compound profiles of yoghurt.     

From utility disconnection to universal access

By some estimates, 31% of Americans face some sort of ‘energy insecurity,’ but the full extent of the issue and the magnitude of its effect are often difficult to quantify. This case study examines disconnection policies primarily in Minnesota and attempts to extrapolate lessons learned for other states and the nation as a whole. The case study concludes with a discussion about the relevance of U.S. universal access to the utility shut-off challenge.     

Proposed network structures and combined adaptive algorithms for electrocardiogram signal denoising

An electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is a record of the electrical activities of heart muscle and is used clinically to diagnose heart diseases. An ECG signal should be presented as clear as possible to support accurate decisions made by doctors. This article proposes different combinations of combined adaptive algorithms to derive different noise-cancelling structures to remove (denoise) different kinds of noise from ECG signals. The algorithms are applied to the following types of noise: power line interference, baseline wander, electrode motion artifact, and muscle artifacts. Moreover, the results of the suggested models and algorithms are compared with those of conventional denoising tools such as the discrete wavelet transform, an adaptive filter, and a multilayer neural network (NN) to ensure the superiority of the proposed combined structures and algorithms. Furthermore, the hybrid concept is based on dual, triple, and quadruple combinations of well-known algorithms that derive adaptive filters, such as the least mean squares, normalized least mean squares and recursive least squares algorithms. The combinations are formulated based on partial update, variable step-size (VSS), and second iterative VSS algorithms, which are considered in different combinations. In addition, biased NN and unbiased linear neural network (ULNN) structures are considered. The performance of the different structures and related algorithms are evaluated by measuring the post-signal-to-noise ratio, mean square error, and percentage root mean square difference.     

Cd-substituted Mg composites with dual-equivalent permeability and permittivity for high-frequency miniaturization antennas

Spinel Mg ferrites Mg_1-xCd_xCo_0.05Fe_1.95O₄ (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) as potential agents for the miniaturization of high frequency antennas are presented. All the synthesized compositions were experimentally revealed to possess pure spinel phase. Dual-equivalent permeability and permittivity (μ'≈26, ε'≈25, x=0.3 and μ'≈29, ε'≈28, x=0.4) from 5 to 100 MHz can be achieved by introducing Cd²⁺ ions, yielding large miniaturization factors of up to 25 and 28. To figure out the effects of Cd²⁺ ions substitution on magnetic and dielectric properties, the change in microstructure is mainly investigated. Meanwhile, enhanced magnetic properties including upward saturation magnetization (Ms) (approximately 47.60 emu/g) and reduced coercivity (approximately 54.22 Oe) are obtained due to increased grain size and denser microstructure arrangements reflected from scanning electron microscopy images. With low magnitude order of magnetic and dielectric losses factors (tanδ_ε reaches 10^-4, tanδ_μ reaches 10^-2), the composites can potentially exhibit high operating efficiencies at high frequencies.     

偶联剂对PLA/PBAT/WF复合材料3D打印性能的影响

以聚乳酸（PLA）和聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBAT）为基体，杨木粉（WF）为填充增强材料，使用混炼机熔融共混制备PLA/PBAT/WF复合材料，采用熔融沉积成型（FDM）技术制备标准实验试样，通过扫描电子显微镜、红外光谱分析、旋转流变测试以及力学试验等方法，研究不同含量的硅烷偶联剂KH550对PLA/PBAT共混物以及PLA/PBAT/WF的相容性、流变性及力学性能的影响。结果表明，在偶联剂用量为3 %（质量分数，下同）时，拉伸强度提高了136 %；偶联剂KH550与 PLA和PBAT共价键偶联生成接枝聚合物，二者相容性得到提高；同时偶联剂与WF表面羟基发生缩聚反应有效的改善了其与PLA/PBAT的基体相容性，PLA/PBAT/WF复合材料的FDM的制件力学性能得到较大提升；复合材料的黏度随偶联剂含量的增加呈下降的趋势，含量为3 %时线材的综合打印性能及制品质量最佳。