A hybrid aggregation and compression technique for road network databases

Vector data and in particular road networks are being queried, hosted and processed in many application domains such as in mobile computing. Many client systems such as PDAs would prefer to receive the query results in unrasterized format without introducing an overhead on overall system performance and result size. While several general vector data compression schemes have been studied by different communities, we propose a novel approach in vector data compression which is easily integrated within a geospatial query processing system. It uses line aggregation to reduce the number of relevant tuples and Huffman compression to achieve a multi-resolution compressed representation of a road network database. Our experiments performed on an end-to-end prototype verify that our approach exhibits fast query processing on both client and server sides as well as high compression ratio.

Co‐condensation synthesis of well‐defined mesoporous silica nanoparticles: effect of surface chemical modification on plasmid DNA condensation and transfection

Chemically modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are of interest due to their chemical and thermal stability with adjustable morphology and porosity; therefore, it was aimed to develop and compare the MCM‐41 MSNs functionalised with imidazole groups (MCM‐41‐Im) to unmodified (MCM‐41‐OH) and primary amine functionalised (MCM‐41‐NH₂) MSNs for experimental gene delivery. The results show efficient transfection of the complexes of the plasmid and either MCM‐41‐NH₂ or MCM‐41‐Im. Furthermore, following transfection of HeLa cells using MCM‐41‐Im, an enhanced GFP expression was achieved consistent with the noticeable DNase1 protection and endosomal escape properties of MCM‐41‐Im using carboxyfluorescein tracer.Inspec keywords: condensation, mesoporous materials, silicon compounds, nanoparticles, DNA, surface chemistry, porosity, gene therapy, cellular biophysics, biomedical materials, nanomedicine, nanofabrication, molecular biophysics, biochemistryOther keywords: co‐condensation synthesis, surface chemical modification, plasmid DNA condensation, plasmid DNA transfection, chemical modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles, chemical stability, thermal stability, adjustable morphology, porosity, MCM‐41 MSN functionalisation, imidazole groups, MCM‐41‐OH, primary amine functionalised MSN, gene delivery, HeLa cell transfection, GFP expression, DNase1 protection, endosomal escape properties, carboxyfluorescein tracer, SiO₂      

Processing Optimal Sequenced Route Queries Using Voronoi Diagrams

The Optimal Sequenced Route (OSR) query strives to find a route of minimum length starting from a given source location and passing through a number of typed locations in a specific sequence imposed on the types of the locations. In this paper, we propose a pre-computation approach to OSR query in both vector and metric spaces. We exploit the geometric properties of the solution space and theoretically prove its relation to additively weighted Voronoi diagrams. Our approach recursively accesses these diagrams to incrementally build the OSR. Introducing the analogous diagrams for the space of road networks, we show that our approach is also efficiently applicable to this metric space. Our experimental results verify that our pre-computation approach outperforms the previous index-based approaches in terms of query response time. This research has been funded in part by NSF grants EEC-9529152 (IMSC ERC), IIS-0238560 (PECASE), IIS-0324955 (ITR), IIS-0534761, and unrestricted cash gifts from Google and Microsoft. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

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Selection of regression models for predicting strength and deformability properties of rocks using GA

Recently, many regression models have been presented for prediction of mechanical parameters of rocks regarding to rock index properties. Although statistical analysis is a common method for developing regression models, but still selection of suitable transformation of the independent variables in a regression model is difficult. In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) has been employed as a heuristic search method for selection of best transformation of the independent variables (some index properties of rocks) in regression models for prediction of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and modulus of elasticity (E). Firstly, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed on a data set to establish predictive models. Then, two GA models were developed in which root mean squared error (RMSE) was defined as fitness function. Results have shown that GA models are more precise than MLR models and are able to explain the relation between the intrinsic strength/elasticity properties and index properties of rocks by simple formulation and accepted accuracy.     

Two-phase flow component fraction measurement using gamma-ray attenuation technique

Multiphase flow meters as the potential alternatives to separation and metering techniques have been in rapid development since 1980 s.Before its field operation,the instrument should be calibrated in a standard test-facility.In spite of the known medium and large scale facilities all over the world,we developed a laboratory scale instrument for component fraction measurements.It has a two-phase flow homogenizer loop with the clamp-on potential of the meters to provide a regime independent measurement.It is capable of delivering a complete homogenization by γ-ray densitometer.With an error of±5%in component fraction measurements,this instrument is appropriate for testing and calibrating other meters.     

Synthesis of Janus/non-Janus hollow graphene oxide micro- and nanoparticles and the effects of their localization on the thermal conductivity of blend-based polymer composites

Journal of Materials Science - In this study, the effects of Janus, hydrophilic and hydrophobic hollow graphene oxide (HO) particles on the thermal conductivity of binary polymer blends were...     

Utilizing Voronoi Cells of Location Data Streams for Accurate Computation of Aggregate Functions in Sensor Networks

Sensor networks are unattended deeply distributed systems whose database schema can be conceptualized using the relational model. Aggregation queries on the data sampled at each sensor node are the main means to extract the abstract characteristics of the surrounding environment. However, the non-uniform distribution of the sensor nodes in the environment leads to inaccurate results generated by the aggregation queries. In this paper, we introduce “spatial aggregations” that take into consideration the spatial location of each measurement generated by the sensor nodes. We propose the use of spatial interpolation methods derived from the fields of spatial statistics and computational geometry to answer spatial aggregations. In particular, we study Spatial Moving Average (SMA), Voronoi Diagram and Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN). Investigating these methods for answering spatial average queries, we show that the average value on the data samples weighted by the area of the Voronoi cell of the corresponding sensor node, provides the best precision. Consequently, we introduce an algorithms to compute and maintain the accurate Voronoi cell at each sensor node while the location of the others arrive on data stream. We also propose AVC-SW, a novel algorithm to approximate this Voronoi cell over a sliding window that supports dynamism in the sensor network. To demonstrate the performance of in-network implementation of our aggregation operators, we have developed prototypes of two different approaches to distributed spatial aggregate processing. Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. GIS'04, November 12–13, 2004, Washington DC, USA. Copyright 2004 ACM 1-58113-979-9/04/0011...$5.00.     

Using simulators to model transmitted variability in ICmanufacturing

The authors describe a response surface design methodology based on process and device simulations to estimate device variations due to changes in process input parameters from their designed values. The gradient of the simulated device characteristics is estimated directly and used to compute device sensitivities. This methodology was applied to Stanford's 2-μm CMOS fabrication process. Threshold voltage, subthreshold slope, linear transconductance, and saturation current were picked as the target device characteristics for optimization. Five process parameters were examined: boron concentration in the wafer, phosphorous n-well implant dose, boron threshold adjust dose, gate oxidation temperature, and gate length. The methodology was shown to be successful for the exploration of device characteristic values as a function of process parameters, but success for the transmitted variability, because it depends on derivatives which tend to be less like polynomials than the functions themselves, is more limited. In the absence of a direct assessment of the derivative, response surface models fit to the simulator values can give a very misleading picture of the transmitted variability. Models used were quadratic models for Box-Cox transformed device characteristics     

Long term stability assessment of Siah Bisheh powerhouse cavern based on displacement back analysis method

Siah Bisheh pumped storage powerhouse cavern with complex geometry, changeable geological formations and diverse geotechnical properties of rocks, is under construction on the Chalus River at the north of Iran. Powerhouse cavern is located near the lower dam reservoir and its crown is more than 30 m down the lower dam maximum lake level. After impounding of lower dam, powerhouse region will be located under saturated condition. Therefore long term stability assessment of the powerhouse cavern under saturated condition is unavoidable. In this study, displacement based direct back analysis using univariate optimization algorithm were applied and geomechanical properties of rocks, stress ratio and joints parameters were identified. Numerical modeling results are in good agreement with measured displacements using extensometers which confirm the numerical modeling accuracy and back analysis results. Then ordinary analysis of powerhouse cavern under natural condition using back analysis results were carried out. Results of analysis shows that powerhouse cavern is stable under natural condition and existing support system has suitable efficiency and could effectively control displacements. Finally, powerhouse cavern long term stability under saturated condition was analyzed. Results of analysis shows that after lower dam impounding, pore water pressure and uplift pressure in discontinuities around powerhouse cavern will arose and tend to local failure of powerhouse cavern in region 2nd and 3rd instrumentation arrays. To obtain powerhouse long term stability, it is recommended to construct a cutoff curtain around powerhouse cavern.     

Evaluation of high local groundwater inflow to a rock tunnel by characterization of geological features

High local groundwater flow into rock tunnels is a technical and environmental problem for underground constructions. Geological features such as fault zones, open fractures and dykes can be the source of very high local inflows. However, prediction of possible groundwater inflow from these features using analytical and numerical tools often failed due to given hydrogeological assumptions and simplification of these heterogeneous media. In fact, the characteristics of geological features are not often detected by normal exploratory methods and missed from geological models. In order to identify factors that affect inflows from the geological features, a detailed investigation has been carried out at a tunnel excavated to supply potable water to the city of Semnan in Iran. The tunnel passes through formations of Cambrian age with thin and thickly laminated limestone, sandstone, shale and siltstone, which thrust on tuff Formation of Tertiary age by a main thrust fault. It was found out that:

(1)

High local inflows (from 20 up to 750 l/s) come from five geological features and much of tunnel is dry or has less inflow.

(2)

Maximum inflow occurs in an open fracture with amount of 750 l/s.

(3)

Faults have different hydraulic effect; they may act as conduits, barriers or combined conduit-barrier systems.

(4)

Dykes are generally barriers along which a large volume of water can be stored.

(5)

Evaluation of high local groundwater inflow to rock tunnels based on characterization of geological features is more reliable compared to available analytical and empirical estimation.