Hierarchical classifier design in high-dimensional numerous classcases

In applying pattern recognition methods in remote sensing problems, an inherent limitation is that there is almost always only a small number of training samples with which to design the classifier. A hybrid decision tree classifier design procedure that produces efficient and accurate classifiers for this situation is proposed. In doing so, several key questions are addressed, among them the question of the feature extraction techniques to be used and the mathematical relationship between sample size, dimensionality, and risk value. Empirical tests comparing the hybrid design classifier with a conventional single layered one are presented. They suggest that the hybrid design produces higher accuracy with fewer features. The need for fewer features is an important advantage, because it reflects favorably on both the size of the training set needed and the amount of computation time that will be needed in analysis     

Heat transfers in treatment furnaces

For heat treating cylindrical metal billets, their lay-out in a furnace usually resembles that of an in-line heat-exchanger tube bank, with the air flows orthogonal to the billets. For maximum effectiveness of transferring thermal energy from the forced convecting air to the billets, the optimal horizontal pitch-to-diameter ratio for the billets should be 1·33 ± 0·05. For this same purpose it is advantageous to employ a vertical spacing (between the billets) as large as can be permitted for a given load of billets.     

Improvement options for a former water-driven-mill building now used as a theatre

After investigating the financial feasibility (and so abandoning the idea) of providing self-generated electricity using hydro-power, it was recommended that the top priority should be the direct connection of an electricity supply, from the mains grid to the building; this would cost £8800. Thereby, the theatre would receive a relatively unrestricted supply of electricity at cheaper unit tariffs. This improvement should be followed by the most urgent repairs being carried out to the building fabric, at an estimated cost of £6990. These repairs are necessary to ensure the continued integrity of the building's structure, thereby inhibiting the on-going deterioration.

The energy and financial appraisal also suggested a priority listing of overall improvements to the building in order to achieve a significant, economically justifiable reduction in energy demand; the recommended options are estimated to cost in total £39819. However, the capital cost of such an upgrading would only be recouped, and the theatre achieve a sustainable future, if the building were to be used more intensively and for a wider range of activities than at present in order to increase its revenue significantly.

All prices as stated are those at August 1991.     

Distribution of vanadium and nickel in crudes from the Prorva zone of Kazakhstan

Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 12, pp. 15–16, December, 1992.     

Indexed in current contents

Indexed in current contents     

SIMULATION OF THE DRY GRANULAR MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ON VIBRATING BED

The method of mathematical modelling of dry granular media behaviour is proposed that takes into consideration the changes in the material volume concentration. The model includes equations of continuous medium mechanics, laws of concervation of mass and momentum and rheological equation. Differential equations are integrated by the method of large particles-in-cells. The developed technique allows to study dry granular materials behaviour on vibrating bed and to evaluate momentary and average for the period of oscillations density of the material, as well as the critical frequency forming the vibroboiling layer, instantaneous and average rate of vibrotransportation and energy characteristics of the drive of a vibromachine.     

Fast approximate analysis for token passing LAN protocol with asymmetrically distributed traffic loads

A new approximate analytical expression for the mean packet delay for a non-exhaustive token passing LAN is derived and compared with discrete event computer simulation. The computational problems associated with the exact and other approximate treatments are avoided because the need to solve a system of simultaneous equations is removed.<>     

Ph Effect on Thermal Transition Temperature of Collagen

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the thermal transition temperature of bovine intramuscular and tendon collagen. Equilibration of the collagen in buffers in the pH range 4.25–7.40 resulted in a decline in transition temperature with decreasing pH. This was more pronounced in collagen with higher concentrations of aldimine crosslinks. We proposed that postmortem pH decline was responsible for the thermal transition temperature decline observed by other workers. Therefore, thermal transition temperature measurements must be performed on collagen samples that have been thoroughly equilibrated to a common pH if they are to be used as indices of structural changes.