Data-adaptive evolutionary spectral estimation

We present a novel data-adaptive estimator for the evolutionary spectrum of nonstationary signals. We model the signal at a frequency of interest as a sinusoid with a time-varying amplitude, which is accurately represented by an orthonormal basis expansion. We then compute a minimum mean-squared error estimate of this amplitude and use it to estimate the time-varying spectrum at that frequency, all while minimizing the interference from the signal components at other frequencies. Repeating the process over all frequencies, we obtain a power distribution that is consistent with the Wold-Cramer evolutionary spectrum and reduces to Capon's (1969) method for the stationary case. Our estimator possesses desirable properties in terms of time-frequency resolution and positivity and is robust in the spectral estimation of noisy nonstationary data. We also propose a new estimator for the autocorrelation of nonstationary signals. This autocorrelation estimate is needed in the data-adaptive spectral estimation. We illustrate the performance of our estimator using simulation examples and compare it with the recently presented evolutionary periodogram and the bilinear time-frequency distribution with exponential kernels     

A dynamic lookahead tree based tracking algorithm for wireless sensor networks using particle filtering technique

In this study, five different algorithms are provided for tracking targets that move very fast in wireless sensor networks. The first algorithm is static and clusters are formed initially at the time of network deployment. In the second algorithm, clusters that have members at one hop distance from the cluster head are provided dynamically. In the third algorithm, clustered trees where members of a cluster may be more than one hop distance from the cluster head are provided dynamically. In the fourth, algorithm lookahead trees are formed along the predicted trajectory of the target dynamically. Linear, Kalman and particle filtering techniques are used to predict the target’s next state. The algorithms are compared for linear and nonlinear motions of the target against tracking accuracy, energy consumption and missing ratio parameters. Simulation results show that, for all cases, better performance results are obtained in the dynamic lookahead tree based tracking approach.     

Verification of Knowledge Assets in Electronic Repositories: Expert- and Community-Governance

Two mechanisms that verify knowledge contributions in electronic repositories are expert-governance and community-governance. Our goal is to examine repository users' perceptions of the conditions under which these mechanisms verify knowledge contributions. Qualitative data show that perceived credibility of experts, perceived ownership of content, and experts' (meticulous) execution of governance functions are salient for expert-governance, and the perceived involvement of community members, and community members' (continuous and collective) execution of governance functions are important for community-governance.     

Clustering based distributed phylogenetic tree construction

Phylogenetic tree construction has received much attention recently due to the availability of vast biological data. In this study, we provide a three step method to build phylogenetic trees. Firstly, a density-based clustering algorithm is used to provide clusters of the population at hand using the distance matrix which shows the distances of the species. Secondly, a phylogenetic tree for each cluster is constructed by using the neighbor-joining (NJ) algorithm and finally, the roots of the small phylogenetic trees are connected again by the NJ algorithm to form one large phylogenetic tree. To our knowledge, this is the first method for building phylogenetic trees that uses clustering prior to forming the tree. As such, it provides independent phylogenetic tree formation within each cluster as the second step, hence is suitable for parallel/distributed processing, enabling fast processing of very large biological data sets.The proposed method, clustered neighbor-joining (CNJ) is applied to 145 samples from the Y-DNA Haplogroup G. Distances between male samples are the variation in their set of Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) values. We show that the clustering method we use is superior to other clustering methods as applied to Y-DNA data and also independent, fast distributed construction of phylogenetic trees is possible with this method.     

Natural frequencies of a flat viaduct road part simply supported on two ends

Viaduct roads have wide application in big cities with high traffic loads, in order to decrease traffic density and to connect subways to highways. Viaduct roads are constructed using steel structures instead of concrete ones in areas of earthquake risks. The low weight of steel structures however causes problems such as vibration and noise. There is increasing demand especially in populated areas to suppress vibration and noise on highway roads for reducing noise-related environmental pollution. In this study, bending vibrations of rectangular plate viaduct roads, which are supported by six fixed elements of rectangular cross-sectional elements are considered. Natural frequencies are obtained using the Rayleigh-Ritz technique, finite elements analysis, experimentally and neural networks (NN).     

Real object recognition using moment invariants

Moments and functions of moments have been extensively employed as invariant global features of images in pattern recognition. In this study, a flexible recognition system that can compute the good features for high classification of 3-D real objects is investigated. For object recognition, regardless of orientation, size and position, feature vectors are computed with the help of nonlinear moment invariant functions. Representations of objects using two-dimensional images that are taken from different angles of view are the main features leading us to our objective. After efficient feature extraction, the main focus of this study, the recognition performance of classifiers in conjunction with moment-based feature sets, is introduced     

Contribution of functionally graded material modelling on finite element simulation of rod end parts in automotive steering system

One of the most important manufacturing steps of the rod end materials is the induction process by which the both hardness of the surfaces and the toughness of the part can be adjusted at the same time. In the study, rod end materials which are inducted and non-inducted are simulated in the view of the fatigue life properties. In the simulations, the rod end parts are defined as functionally graded materials where the mechanical properties of the materials are varying with the dimensions. Additionally, the noninducted material properties or fully strengthened material properties are defined for the geometry in order to comprehend the contribution of the definitions on the congruity of the finite element simulation results with the experiments. When the materials properties of the rod end part are defined as functional graded, the simulation results are found to be much more close to the experimental results.

     

艾哈迈德·阿德南·萨伊贡艺术中心,伊兹密尔,土耳其

<正>一座建筑的性能应当如何来衡量?除了通过统治当代建筑舆论的美学、技术以及经济价值来进行描述之外,我们还能够如何来阐释一座建筑,尤其是一座致力于庇护那些渴望展现自己的艺术家的建筑?有人会问成功的表演是如何实现的,表演者是如何进行伪装的、又是如何展现自己的?根据海德格尔的理论,当我们看不到钉子的时候,铁锤的表现才是成功的;钉子本身的出现通常表明出现了问题。     

Significance of epidermoid formations in the middle ear in fetuses and children

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, size, and location of epidermoid formations (EFs), which have been suggested to be precursors of congenital cholesteatomas, in temporal bones from fetuses and children. DESIGN: We examined temporal bones from 226 fetuses and children up to the age of 10 years for the incidence, size, and location of EFs. RESULTS: Twenty-five EFs were identified in middle ears of 3 fetuses, 7 neonates, 9 infants, and 2 children aged 2 and 3 years. There was a male-female preponderance of 5:4. Generally, we saw EFs between the anterosuperior edge of the eardrum and the anterior limb of the tympanic ring, but 4 were below the level of the handle of the malleus. Their widths ranged from 25 to 300 microns. Keratinization was not observed in any EF. Contrary to previous reports, we found EFs not only in ears of fetuses, but also in ears of infants and children. CONCLUSION: Although EFs may persist in some ears, possibly developing into congenital cholesteatomas, our findings do not provide direct support for this concept.     

Stochastic network evacuation models

Stochastic network evacuation models are crucial for the safe evacuation of occupants from buildings. In this paper, we compare an analytical closed queueing network and a simulation model for analyzing the evacuation of occupants from a hospital. Evacuation times, arc congestion, and optimization of the evacuation routes and staff assigned to the evacuation network are included.