A fuzzy classifier with ellipsoidal regions for diagnosis problems

In our previous work, we developed a fuzzy classifier with ellipsoidal regions that has a training capability. In this paper, we extend the fuzzy classifier to diagnosis problems, in which the training data belonging to abnormal classes are difficult to obtain while the training data belonging to normal classes are easily obtained. Assuming that there are no data belonging to abnormal classes, we first train the fuzzy classifier with only the data belonging to normal classes. We then introduce the threshold of the minimum-weighted distance from the centers of the clusters for the data belonging to normal classes. If the unknown data is within the threshold, we classify the data into normal classes and, if not, abnormal classes. The operator checks whether the diagnosis is correct. If the incoming data is classified into the same normal class both by the classifier and the operator, nothing is done. But if the input data is classified into the different normal classes by the classifier and the operator, or if the incoming data is classified into an abnormal class, but the operator classified it into a normal class, the slopes of the membership functions of the fuzzy rules are tuned. If the operator classifies the data into an abnormal class, the classifier is retrained adding the newly obtained data irrespective of the classifier's classification result. The online training is continued until a sufficient number of the data belonging to abnormal classes are obtained. Then the threshold is optimized using the data belonging to both normal and abnormal classes. We evaluate our method using the Fisher iris data, blood cell data, and thyroid data, assuming some of the classes are abnormal     

Environmental Effects on Microstructural Stability of SiC/SiC Composites

LowZmaterialshavemanyadvantagesinnuclearenvirOInnellts,suchaslessProductionofradioactivewastesduetosubstantiallylowactivation,andhigherconVergentefficiencyduetothecapabilityofhightemp~OPeration.HopkinhasdiscussedSiC-basedmaterialsforfhaionreactorsfor...     

Influence of temperature on growth of Legionella pneumophila biofilm determined by precise temperature gradient incubator

Bacterial growth is influenced by several different culture conditions. Temperature is one of an essential component which regulates bacterial growth and their morphology. The influence of temperature on the length of bacteria was investigated in broth and on agar in a temperature range from 30.0 degrees C to 47.0 degrees C in 0.5 degrees C steps using a newly developed temperature gradient incubator. The incubator is able to reach a set temperature within 2 h and maintain temperature as accurate as +/-0.1 degrees C of the set temperature. Three Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 strains were incubated for 48 h in BCYE-alpha agar at various temperatures ranging from 30.0 degrees C to 48.0 degrees C and length of bacteria grown at each temperature was microscopically measured. Ability of bacteria to multiply at a given temperature was also determined. L. pneumophila serotype 1 strains ATCC 33152, a clinical isolate Okinawa 02-001 were going to elongate to longer than 100 mum when cultured higher than at 39.5 degrees C and at 41.5 degrees C, respectively. Each strain was unable to multiply when cultured higher than at 44.2 degrees C (ATCC 33152) or at 44.0 degrees C (Okinawa 02-001). Those data would provide insights for establishing regulations in terms of maintaining hot water temperature in a facility where a circulating hot water supply-system is available and contamination with Legionella spp. is likely to happen.     

Selective detection method derived from a controlled diffusion process at metal-modified diamond electrodes

A novel, selective methodology is derived based on the difference between the diffusion processes at microelectrodes (i.e., hemispherical diffusion) and the macroelectrode (i.e., linear diffusion) in a metal-implanted boron-doped diamond electrode (metal-BDDs). As an example, the selective detection of glucose in a solution containing interference species such as ascorbic acid and uric acid is demonstrated. The electrochemical properties of BDD, which are low background current, extremely high stability, and (especially) inactivity toward glucose, play an important role in realizing these differences in the diffusion characteristics. The present methodology can be applied not only to selective glucose detection by the metal-BDD system but also to other selective detection systems.     

Quasicrystals as cluster aggregates

Quasicrystals are solids that exhibit symmetries long thought forbidden in nature. Since their discovery in a rapidly solidified Al-Mn alloy in 1984, the central issue in the field has been to understand why they form. Are they energetically stable compounds or stabilized by entropy? In recent years, major strides have been made in determining atomic structure, largely by direct imaging using advanced electron microscopy. One system is now known to be energetically stabilized, and quasicrystals are therefore firmly established as a new physical state of matter. They represent a unique packing of atomic clusters some tens of atoms in size, with substantial localized fluctuations, referred to as phasons. Understanding phasons may in future allow their unique macroscopic properties to be tailored for useful materials applications.     

Conformational change detection in nonmetal proteins by direct electrochemical oxidation using diamond electrodes

In this report, we established a new electrochemical method for the detection of conformational changes in large, non-metalloproteins such as bovine serum albumin, using flow injection analysis coupled with hydrogen-terminated, boron-doped diamond electrodes. The oxidation current was used as a signal reporter in the monitoring of urea-induced BSA denaturation. In the denatured state at high urea concentrations, the electrochemical signal increased, and the amperometric responses for the oxidation potential at 1300 mV were consistent with the results of conventional methods of denaturation monitoring using fluorescence spectroscopy. The oxidation involved at least five redox-active species (cysteine, tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine, and disulfide bonds). Furthermore, the method also showed high sensitivity for quantitative analysis of protein. A linear dynamic in the concentration range 50-400 microg/mL (r(2) = 0.977) with a lower detection limit of 190 ng/mL was achieved for BSA. Direct electrochemical detection of conformation changes of proteins using BDD electrodes can be performed with advantages in terms of simplicity and sensitivity.     

Gaze direction based vehicle teleoperation method with omnidirectional image stabilization and automatic body rotation control

In robot teleoperation, a robot works as a physical agent at a remote site for a robot operator. There are mainly two tasks in robot teleoperation using camera images: environment recognition using visual information and robot control according to the recognition. In this paper, we propose a gaze direction based vehicle teleoperation method with an omnidirectional image stabilization and an automatic body rotation control. In the proposed method, we manage above two tasks in the same manner that are usually treated separately. This method is an intuitive vehicle teleoperation method where an operator do not need to have concern about vehicle body orientations and can absorb differences of vehicle driving mechanisms. That is, this method frees an operator from being bothered from controlling a vehicle and the operator can concentrate on where he/she intends to go. This method mainly consists of two technologies: an omnidirectional image stabilization technology and automatic body rotation control. The conducted experiments show effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Calculations of impurity doping effects in CrO/sub 2/

The effects of impurity doping in CrO/sub 2/ have been calculated based on the Cr/sub 9/O/sub 40/ cluster using the method of DV-X /spl alpha/ molecular orbital calculation. Elements (Mo, W) belonging to the same family as Cr and the ones (Zr, Ru, Sn) whose dioxides have the same crystalline structure as the rutile were selected for impurity doping. The calculated results show the large enhancements of the magnetic moment and the Curie temperature by the doping of Zr and Ru, respectively.