Stability of a learning algorithm with respect to small input perturbations is an important property, as it implies that the derived models are robust with respect to the presence of noisy features and/or data sample fluctuations. The qualitative nature of the stability property enhardens the development of practical, stability optimizing, data mining algorithms as several issues naturally arise, such as: how “much” stability is enough, or how can stability be effectively associated with intrinsic data properties. In the context of this work we take into account these issues and explore the effect of stability maximization in the continuous (PCA-based) k-means clustering problem. Our analysis is based on both mathematical optimization and statistical arguments that complement each other and allow for the solid interpretation of the algorithm’s stability properties. Interestingly, we derive that stability maximization naturally introduces a tradeoff between cluster separation and variance, leading to the selection of features that have a high cluster separation index that is not artificially inflated by the features variance. The proposed algorithmic setup is based on a Sparse PCA approach, that selects the features that maximize stability in a greedy fashion. In our study, we also analyze several properties of Sparse PCA relevant to stability that promote Sparse PCA as a viable feature selection mechanism for clustering. The practical relevance of the proposed method is demonstrated in the context of cancer research, where we consider the problem of detecting potential tumor biomarkers using microarray gene expression data. The application of our method to a leukemia dataset shows that the tradeoff between cluster separation and variance leads to the selection of features corresponding to important biomarker genes. Some of them have relative low variance and are not detected without the direct optimization of stability in Sparse PCA based k-means. Apart from the qualitative evaluation, we have also verified our approach as a feature selection method for $k$-means clustering using four cancer research datasets. The quantitative empirical results illustrate the practical utility of our framework as a feature selection mechanism for clustering. 相似文献
The complexity of new information technologies (IT) may limit the access of elderly people to the information society, exacerbating what is known as “the digital divide,” as they appear to be too challenging for elderly citizens regardless of the integrity of their cognitive status. This study is an attempt to clarify how some cognitive functions (such as attention or verbal memory) may determine the interaction of cognitively impaired elderly people with technology. Twenty participants ranging from mild cognitive impairment to moderate Alzheimer’s disease were assessed by means of a neuropsychological and functional battery and were asked to follow simple commands from an avatar appearing on a TV by means of a remote control, such as asking the participant to confirm their presence or to respond Yes/No to a proposal to see a TV program. The number of correct answers and command repetitions required for the user to respond were registered. The results show that participants with a better cognitive and functional state in specific tests show a significantly better performance in the TV task. The derived conclusion is that neuropsychological assessment may be used as a useful complementary tool for assistive technology developers in the adaptation of IT to the elderly with different cognitive and functional profiles. Further studies with larger samples are required to determine to what extent cognitive functions can actually predict older users’ interaction with technology. 相似文献
Despite significant advances in water based surface coating technology, the presence of surfactants in emulsion polymer binders leads to loss of performance after prolonged immersion in water, relative to solvent based coatings that are free of surfactant impurities. This study begins with water uptake evaluation of a range of emulsion polymer binders. A carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber latex (c-SBR) performed best in the latter evaluations and was selected for the formulation of an exterior grade paint and construction of a mathematical model to predict water uptake of the dry film. The c-SBR was then compounded with a range of inorganic fillers and water uptake and tensile properties were evaluated. Talc was found to be the best performing filler, and was used in a three factorial central composite design study where the simultaneous effects of talc, titanium dioxide and phenolic stabiliser on water up take were evaluated and fitted to response equations. A quadratic model was found to provide the most accurate prediction of effects associated with interactions between talc and TiO2. Certain combinations of talc and titanium dioxide were found to be synergistic in reducing the water uptake. This was considered to be associated with a packing effect stemming from the vast difference in particle size between talc and titanium dioxide particles. An optimised formulation was finally prepared to meet one of the final formulation objectives; i.e., minimised water uptake. Preparation of such a formulation showed that the predicted and measured water uptake responses were in excellent agreement. This study illustrates the effectiveness of statistical experimental design methods in predicting the water uptake characteristics of water-based coatings. 相似文献
The present study was designed to examine the effects of EFA deficiency (EFAD) on biochemical, functional, and structural
aspects of the kidney in growing and adult rats fed a normal or EFAD diet for 9 wk after weaning. Food and fluid intake (FI),
urine volume, and Na+ and K+ excretions were measured weekly from weeks 4 to 8 by placing the rats in individual metabolic cages for 24 h. At week 9,
Li+ and a 5% water load, respectively, were administered at 14 and 1.5 h prior to glomerular and proximal tubular function studies,
as assessed by 3-h creatinine (CCr) and Li+ (CLi+) clearances. Hematocrit and urine volume; serum and urine [Cr], [Li+], [Na+], and [K+]; and renal FA distribution were also measured. Data [corrected to 100 g/body weight (bw) and presented as means ±SEM] were
significant, at P<-0.05. Despite a similar ingestion of solids from weeks 4 to 7 (weeks 7 to 10 of life), the rats on the EFAD diet showed
a decreased body weight from week 5. From weeks 4 to 8, Fl and urine volume were similar for both groups, but the Fl increased
at week 6 in the EFAD group; 24-h Na+ and K+ excretions were similar at all weeks, except for an increase in the EFAD group for both ions at week 7. In the EFAD group,
CCr and CLi+ decreased by 27 and 56.3%, respectively (385.7±33.4 vs. 280±21.1, and 21.0±2.1 vs. 9.2±1.1 μL/min/100 g; n=9 vs. 10), the latter result suggesting increased proximal reabsorption. The 3-h Na+ and K+ excretions were similar, but the Li+ decreased (0.78±0.06×10−2 vs. 0.32±0.03×10−2 μeq/min/100 g) in the EFAD group, giving additional support to the suggestion. Renal structure was normal and similar for
both groups, but the EFAD group showed a more prominent proximal tubule brush border, together with heavier periodic acid-Schiff
staining in all specimens from weeks 5 to 9. In the EFAD group, FA of the n−9 and n−7 series were higher, but most of the
n−6 series were lower as a percentage of total lipids in the medulla and cortex. Medullary levels of 20∶4n−6 were maintained,
22∶4n−6 declined twice, arachidonic acid was maintained, and 20∶5n−3 was lower. The EFAD diet affected glomerular function,
proximal tubular structure and function, and FA distribution in the rat kidney. 相似文献
α-alumina (α-Al2O3, corundum) fibers exhibit high thermal and chemical stability, as well as good mechanical properties, even at high temperatures. Such characteristics make them good candidates for use in composites. Nevertheless, very few methods of producing α-Al2O3 fibers are available. In the present work, we describe a method that uses aluminum pieces deposited on SiO2 powder, in an argon atmosphere, at temperatures in the range 1300°–1600°C. The α-Al2O3 fibers are obtained via vapor-liquid-solid deposition. The novel addition of nickel and cobalt (or their oxides) allows the use of temperatures >1500°C, resulting in improved fiber production. We demonstrate that the metals do not contaminate the fibers produced in this way. Finally, we also estimate the tensile strength of the Al2O3 fibers produced through this method. 相似文献
The fifth abdominal segment of femaleEriocrania semipurpurella (Stephens) andE. sangii (Wood) contains a pair of exocrine glands. Hexane extracts of this segment were prepared from both species and analyzed by gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantennographic detection (EAD). For both species, the EAD active peaks were identified as nonan-2-one, (Z)-6-nonen-2-one, and (Z)-6-nonen-2-ol by means of mass spectrometry and comparison of retention indices with those of synthetic standards. Enantiomeric separation of chiral alcohols from the female extracts was achieved by gas chromatographic analysis on a cyclodextrin column. InE. semipurpurella, a mixture of (2S,6Z)-nonen-2-ol and (2R,6Z)-nonen-2-ol (2: I) was found, whereas inE. sangii (2S,6Z)-nonen-2-ol was the predominant enantiomer and only traces of theR enantiomer were indicated by the antennal response. In field tests, a blend of the three compounds was not attractive to conspecific males. A subtractive assay showed that the alcohol in various enantiomeric mixtures was the only attractive compound, whereas addition of (Z)-6-nonen-2-one to the alcohol completely inhibited the attraction of both species. A trapping experiment including a wide range of ratios between theR andS enantiomers showed that baits containing 95–100% of theS enantiomer were attractive to maleE. sangii, whereas males ofE. semipurpurella were attracted to all tested ratios of the enantiomers. However, the response profiles of maleE. semipurpurella differed between populations from southern Sweden, south Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. In south Sweden males were maximally attracted to a racemic mixture of the alcohols. At the Kola PeninsulaE. semipurpurella was attracted to baits containing 95–100% of theR enantiomer. In south Finland all tested ratios between 0 and 100%R enantiomer trappedE. semipurpurella, but the trap catches appeared to be bimodally distributed with peaks around 15 and 70%R enantiomer. The trapping results suggest the existence of pheromone races or sibling species among the specimens identified asE. semipurpurella.Dedicated to Prof. H. J. Bestmann on the occasion of his 70th birthday. 相似文献
At the Keck Smart Materials Integration Laboratory at Penn State University, low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material systems have been used to fabricate a number of devices for a variety of applications. This article presents an overview of the integration of the concepts and materials that we have used to achieve miniaturization and unique device function. Examples of microwave filters, metamaterial antennas, and a dielectrophoretic cell sorter will be presented, with emphasis on device modeling and design, prototype construction methods, and test results. 相似文献
Droughts are affecting an increasing number of lotic ecosystems worldwide due to the combined effects of climatic and anthropogenic pressures. Unlike naturally intermittent rivers, where the drying phase is a part of the annual flow regime, water scarcity in Alpine rivers represents a relatively recent phenomenon and, therefore, a major threat for the biodiversity of these lotic ecosystems. However, Alpine stream community response to drought is still poorly investigated. Here, we assess the recovery of macroinvertebrates in two Alpine streams after a supraseasonal drought. As water returned, a total of 10 sampling sessions were carried out, and temporal patterns in diversity, density, and taxonomic composition of benthic communities, as well as in the percentage of functional feeding groups, were investigated. We found that the resistance of invertebrate communities in Alpine streams is generally low: drought markedly reduced the diversity and density of macroinvertebrates. Conversely, our results suggest that the passive dispersal by drift from the upstream river sections seems the most probable mechanism promoting the post‐drought recovery. Nevertheless, this resilience ability appears to be stream specific and influenced by intrinsic stream characteristics, including the flow permanence and distance from the nearest upstream perennial reach. This work sheds light on the ecological consequences of droughts on macroinvertebrate communities. As flow intermittency in Alpine areas is expected to intensify under current global change scenarios, results of this study provide important information to predict changes in the taxonomic composition and diversity of macroinvertebrate communities. 相似文献
Highly porous free-standing co-poly(vinylidene fluoride)/modacrylic/SiO2 nanofibrous membrane was developed using electrically-assisted solution blow spinning method. The performance and the potential of the membrane as a lithium-ion battery separator were investigated. The addition of modacrylic enhanced the solution spinnability that resulted in defect-free membranes. Moreover, the presence of modacrylic enhanced the dimensional and thermal stabilities, while the addition of hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticle enhanced both mechanical property and ionic conductivity. Combustion test results illustrated that the presence of modacrylic provide flame retarding property over a set of different polymeric-based membranes. Electrochemical performance results showed that the developed membrane can increase the battery capacity compared with the commercial separator. 相似文献
The “River Disease” (RD), a disorder impacting honeybee colonies located close to waterways with abundant riparian vegetation (including Sebastiania schottiana, Euphorbiaceae), kills newly hatched larvae. Forager bees from RD-affected colonies collect honeydew excretions from Epormenis cestri (Hemiptera: Flatidae), a planthopper feeding on trees of S. schottiana. First-instar honeybee larvae fed with this honeydew died. Thus, we postulated that the nectars of RD-affected colonies had a natural toxin coming from either E. cestri or S. schottiana. An untargeted metabolomics characterization of fresh nectars extracts from colonies with and without RD allowed to pinpoint xanthoxylin as one of the chemicals present in higher amounts in nectar from RD-affected colonies than in nectars from healthy colonies. Besides, xanthoxylin was also found in the aerial parts of S. schottiana and the honeydew excreted by E. cestri feeding on this tree. A larva feeding assay where xanthoxylin-enriched diets were offered to 1st instar larvae showed that larvae died in the same proportion as larvae did when offered enriched diets with nectars from RD-colonies. These findings demonstrate that a xenobiotic can mimic the RD syndrome in honeybee larvae and provide evidence of an interspecific flow of xanthoxylin among three trophic levels. Further, our results give information that can be considered when implementing measures to control this honeybee disease.