Finite element limit analysis of load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes using a non-associated flow rule

This paper presents a numerical study on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes under footing load using a finite element limit analysis (FELA) method where a non-associated flow rule is assumed in the analysis. The method was validated against results from full-scale model tests and a limit equilibrium (LE) analytical method. A series of parametric analyses was subsequently carried out to examine the influences that the soil dilation angle, footing location, and reinforcement design (i.e. length, tensile strength, and vertical spacing) could have on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes. Results indicate that dilation angle has a significant influence on the predicted magnitudes of bearing capacity, slope deformation, and mobilized reinforcement load. The predicted values of bearing capacity using the FELA are smaller than those from the Meyerhof's analytical method for unreinforced semi-infinite foundation, especially for larger friction angle values. Additionally, the ultimate bearing capacity of the slope and its corresponding horizontal deformation increase with the reinforcement tensile strength. Finally, the slip planes under the applied footing load are found to be y-shaped and primarily occur in the upper half of the slope.     

基于改进的Random Subspace的客户投诉分类方法

电信业的客户投诉不断增多而又亟待高效处理。针对电信客户投诉数据的特点，提出了一种面向高维数据的改进的集成学习分类方法。该方法综合考虑客户投诉中的文本信息及客户通讯状态信息，基于Random Subspace方法，以支持向量机（Support Vector Machine，SVM）为基分类器，采用证据推理（Evidential Reasoning，ER）规则为一种新的集成策略，构造分类模型对电信客户投诉进行分类。所提模型和方法在某电信公司客户投诉数据上进行了验证，实验结果显示该方法能够显著提高客户投诉分类的准确率和投诉处理效率。     

Contract duration: Barrier or bridge to successful public-private partnerships?

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are predominantly executed through the use of formal contracts which define the relationship between a public agency and private supplier. As such, a PPP is not a generic contract between buyer and supplier but rather a specific contractual arrangement between a public buyer and private supplier. The contract captures the responsibilities of each party in achieving a specific set of performance objectives. Given budgetary pressures faced by public agencies, there is an increasing need for suppliers to make investments which could reduce future-year costs of meeting contract performance objectives. This research addresses two overarching questions specific to the issue of private, supplier-side investment. First, “how does public agency and private supplier perception of risk influence contract duration?” and second, “how does contract duration influence private investment?” To answer these questions, structured interviews were conducted with those in public agencies and private, supplier firms actively engaged in PPPs. Factors suspected to contribute to the risk position of public and private actors were evaluated. Additionally, linkages between public buyer-private supplier risk position, contract duration and private, supplier-side investment were addressed. Outcomes suggest properly structured long-term contracts may: 1) provide the risk mitigation mechanisms needed for both public and private actors, and 2) facilitate private, supplier-side investment.     

基于伪布尔模型和启发式算法求解无容量设施选址问题

采用伪布尔模型和启发式算法来求解无容量设施选址问题。首先给出了问题的伪布尔(pseudo-Boolean)表示，然后基于Khumawala规则对问题进行预处理，最后提出两种启发式分支准则来求解问题。实验结果表明所提算法简单有效。     

基于数据挖掘的开源电子资源访问行为统计模型

为了解决当前图书馆资源个性化推荐过程中存在推荐的准确率、召回率以及效率较低的问题,采用二维距离模型构建用户社区模型,用于描述访问用户与图书馆开源电子资源之间的关系,并对互联网用户需求和访问行为进行模糊规则推理.依据互联网用户属性和图书馆资源访问需求属性之间的模糊规则,建立图书馆开源电子资源访问行为统计模型,并利用该模型向用户提供个性化推荐服务.仿真结果表明,所建模型的推荐召回率高达98. 4%,推荐准确率为99. 2%,运行时间小于0. 04 s.所建模型能够为互联网用户提供准确、高效地图书馆资源个性化推荐服务.     

Transverse magnetoresistance peculiarities of thermoelectric Lu-doped Bi2Te3 compound due to strong electrical disorder

The n-type thermoelectric Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ was prepared by microwave-solvothermal method and spark plasma sintering. The magnetic field and temperature dependences of transverse magnetoresistance measured within temperature 2–200 K interval allow finding the peculiarities characteristic for strongly disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. The first peculiarity is due to appearance of linear-in-magnetic field contribution to the total magnetoresistance reflected in a crossover from quadratic magnetoresistance at low magnetic fields to linear magnetoresistance at high magnetic fields. The linear magnetoresistance can result from the Hall resistance picked up from macroscopically distorted current paths due to local variations in stoichiometry of the compound studied. The second peculiarity is that both linear magnetoresistance magnitude and crossover field are functions of carrier mobility which is in agreement with the Parish and Littlewood model developed for disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. An increase in the mobility due to a decrease in temperature is accompanied by an increase in the magnetoresistance magnitude and a decrease in the crossover field. Finally, the third peculiarity is related to the remarkable deviation of the total magnetoresistance measured at various temperatures from the Kohler's rule. Presence of strong inhomogeneity and disorder in the Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ structure concluded from the magnetoresistance peculiarities can be responsible for the remarkable reduction in the total thermal conductivity of this compound.     

The application of decision support tools and the influence of local data in prioritizing barrier removal in lower Michigan,USA

Web-based decision support tools (DSTs) can be useful to facilitate decision-making processes for managing complex natural resource systems. However, the alignment of DSTs with the objectives in governmental policies or management plans and the influence of limited local data on the outputs of these tools may reduce the use of DSTs by decision makers. In this study, we examined the outcomes of web-based DSTs when different types of local data were incorporated and demonstrated a way to incorporate outputs from multiple DSTs or local inventories to benefit barrier removal decisions. Restoring habitat connectivity in rivers in northwest lower Michigan, USA, was used as a case study due to the abundance of local inventory data and web-based DSTs. We found that, when compared to prioritizations made using local data, some DSTs could produce similar outcomes (in barriers selected, cost, and the benefit for migratory fish) with limited data, but the trade-offs among users' objectives might influence the cost and effectiveness of DSTs' outputs. Improving the ability of DSTs to incorporate objectives consistent with policy and stakeholders' values (e.g., restore certain species or sedimentation control) across management scales can help close the gap between tool recommendations and management decisions while making the barrier removal prioritization process transparent and efficient.     

A decision fusion based methodology for fault Prognostic and Health Management of complex systems

Prognostic and Health Management (PHM) represents an active field of research and a major scientific challenge in many domains. It usually focuses on the failure time or the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction of a system.This paper presents a generic framework, based on a discrete Bayesian Network (BN), particularly tailored for decision fusion of heterogeneous prognostic methods. The BN parameters are computed according to the fixed prognostic objectives.The effectiveness of the proposed decision fusion based methodology for the prognostic is demonstrated through the RULs estimation of turbofan engines. The application highlights the ability of the approach to estimate RULs which overpasses the performance of most other published results in the literature.