A comparison of generalized linear discriminant analysis algorithms

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is a dimension reduction method which finds an optimal linear transformation that maximizes the class separability. However, in undersampled problems where the number of data samples is smaller than the dimension of data space, it is difficult to apply LDA due to the singularity of scatter matrices caused by high dimensionality. In order to make LDA applicable, several generalizations of LDA have been proposed recently. In this paper, we present theoretical and algorithmic relationships among several generalized LDA algorithms and compare their computational complexities and performances in text classification and face recognition. Towards a practical dimension reduction method for high dimensional data, an efficient algorithm is proposed, which reduces the computational complexity greatly while achieving competitive prediction accuracies. We also present nonlinear extensions of these LDA algorithms based on kernel methods. It is shown that a generalized eigenvalue problem can be formulated in the kernel-based feature space, and generalized LDA algorithms are applied to solve the generalized eigenvalue problem, resulting in nonlinear discriminant analysis. Performances of these linear and nonlinear discriminant analysis algorithms are compared extensively.     

Influence of wall charge distribution on time lag of address discharge in AC plasma display panels

The influence of wall charge distribution on the time lag of address discharge in an AC plasma display panel is investigated using two different reset waveforms: one (typical reset) induces both face and surface discharges and the other (TR reset) induces face discharges only. The measured formative time lag and statistical time lag of address discharge for TR were 21–31 ns and 31–74 ns shorter than the one for the typical reset, respectively. The TR reset resulted in much less increase of statistical time lag than the typical reset when the reset-to-address time interval was increased, and 70 ns smaller deviation of the statistical time lag among different color cells. Calculations show that the TR reset forms a much smoother wall charge profile, which is less susceptible to cell parameter variations, than the typical reset. The observed differences in the time lags of address discharge between different scan lines and color cells are strongly correlated to the differences of the wall charge profile, indicating that a smooth wall charge profile formed by the reset using face discharges only reduces the time lag of address discharge and minimizes the susceptibility of address discharge to cell parameter variation.     

Generating useful images for medical applications from the Visible Korean Human

For the Visible Korean Human (VKH), a male cadaver was serially ground off to acquire the serially sectioned images (SSIs) of a whole human body. Thereafter, more than 700 structures in the SSIs were outlined to produce detailed segmented images; the SSIs and segmented images were volume- and surface-reconstructed to create three-dimensional models. For outlining and reconstruction, popular software (Photoshop, MRIcro, Maya, AutoCAD, 3ds max, and Rhino) was mainly used; the technique can be reproduced by other investigators for creating their own images. For refining the segmentation and volume reconstruction, the VOXEL-MAN system was used. The continuously upgraded technique was applied to a female cadaver's pelvis to produce the SSIs with 0.1mm sized intervals and 0.1mm x 0.1mm sized pixels. The VKH data, distributed worldwide, encouraged researchers to develop virtual dissection, virtual endoscopy, and virtual lumbar puncture contributing to medical education and clinical practice. In the future, a virtual image library including all the Visible Human Project data, Chinese Visible Human data, and VKH data will hopefully be established where users will be able to download one of the data sets for medical applications.     

Zoned-partitioning of tree-like access methods

The performance of access methods and the underlying disk system is a significant factor in determining the performance of database applications, especially with large sets of data. While modern hard disks are manufactured with multiple physical zones, where seek times and data transfer rates vary significantly across the zones, there has been little consideration of this important disk characteristic in designing access methods (indexing schemes). Instead, conventional access methods have been developed based on a traditional disk model that comes with many simplifying assumptions such as an average seek time and a single data transfer rate. The paper proposes novel partitioning techniques that can be applied to any tree-like access methods, both dynamic and static, fully utilizing zoning characteristics of hard disks. The index pages are allocated to disk zones in such a way that more frequently accessed index pages are stored in a faster disk zone. On top of the zoned data placement, a localized query processing technique is proposed to significantly improve the query performance by reducing page retrieval times from the hard disk.     

A study of roll‐printing technology for TFT‐LCD fabrication

Abstract— Recently, potential breakthrough technologies for low‐cost processing of TFT‐LCDs and new process developments for flexible‐display fabrication have been widely studied. A roll‐printing process using etch‐resist material as a replacement for photolithographic patterning was investigated. The characterization of the properties of patterns formed in roll printing, a method to fabricate cliché plates for fine patterns, and the design of a new formulation for resist printing ink is reported. The pattern position accuracy, which is one of the most important issues for the successful application of printing processes in display manufacturing was studied and how it can be improved by optimizing the blanket roll structure is explained. New design rules for the layout of the thin‐film‐transistor array was derived to improve the compatibility of roll printing. As a result, a prototype 15‐in.‐XGA TFT‐LCD panel was fabricated by using printing processes to replace all the photolithographic patterning steps conventionally used.     

Ambient‐light sensor system with wide dynamic range enhanced by adaptive sensitivity control

Abstract— A new digital ambient‐light sensor system is presented which employs two linear light sensors with different sensitivities and automatically adjusts the sensitivity based on the illumination condition. The adaptation mechanism allows a very wide range of light intensity to be detected, and the input dynamic range of the system is substantially improved from 22.5 to 45.1 dB. The proposed method does not require any additional precision bits for output data. Due to the small number of the output bits and the simple conversion process, the system can be easily integrated on the display panel.     

Application of maximum entropy principle for reliability-based design optimization

The maximum entropy principle (MEP) is used to generate a natural probability distribution among the many possible that have the same moment conditions. The MEP can accommodate higher order moment information and therefore facilitate a higher quality PDF model. The performance of the MEP for PDF estimation is studied by using more than four moments. For the case with four moments, the results are compared with those by the Pearson system. It is observed that as accommodating higher order moment, the estimated PDF converges to the original one. A sensitivity analysis formulation of the failure probability based on the MEP is derived for reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) and the accuracy is compared with that by finite difference method (FDM). Two RBDO examples including a realistic three-dimensional wing design are solved by using the derived sensitivity formula and the MEP-based moment method. The results are compared with other methods such as TR-SQP, FAMM + Pearson system, FFMM + Pearson system in terms of accuracy and efficiency. It is also shown that an improvement in the accuracy by including more moment terms can increase numerical efficiency of optimization for the three-dimensional wing design. The moment method equipped with the MEP is found flexible and well adoptable for reliability analysis and design.     

Proteomic analysis of sera of asymptomatic,early‐stage patients with Wilson's disease

Wilson's disease (WD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of intracellular copper in liver and extrahepatic tissues, leading to significant oxidative stress and tissue damage. To date, several diagnostic biomarkers for WD such as serum ceruloplasmin, serum or urine copper levels and copper content in liver have been identified. However, these biomarkers may not be convincing for the diagnosis in some WD patients. To identify additional novel diagnostic biomarkers, we compared the serum protein profiles of asymptomatic childhood WD patients (n=20), without neurologic manifestation or liver cirrhosis, with normal controls (n=13). Fourteen spots, five up‐regulated and nine down‐regulated (>2‐fold), were differentially expressed in WD patients in comparison to normal control on 2‐DE. Among them, three spots were down‐regulated in both male and female WD. MS/MS analysis revealed that the three spots were complement component C3, complement factor B and alpha‐2 macroglobulin. By comparative proteome analysis, complement component C3, complement factor B and alpha‐2 macroglobulin, which are related to oxidative stress and inflammation, turned out to be good candidates for novel diagnostic biomarkers for early stages of WD.     

Invited article: development of high-field superconducting Ioffe magnetic traps

We describe the design, construction, and performance of three generations of superconducting Ioffe magnetic traps. The first two are low current traps, built from four racetrack shaped quadrupole coils and two solenoid assemblies. Coils are wet wound with multifilament NbTi superconducting wires embedded in epoxy matrices. The magnet bore diameters are 51 and 105 mm with identical trap depths of 1.0 T at their operating currents and at 4.2 K. A third trap uses a high current accelerator-type quadrupole magnet and two low current solenoids. This trap has a bore diameter of 140 mm and tested trap depth of 2.8 T. Both low current traps show signs of excessive training. The high current hybrid trap, on the other hand, exhibits good training behavior and is amenable to quench protection.     

Effect of interlayer on structure and performance of anode-supported SOFC single cells

To lower the operating temperatures in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operations, anode-supported SOFC single cells with a single dip-coated interlayer were fabricated and the effect of the interlayer on the electrolyte structure and the electrical performance was investigated. For the preparation of SOFC single cells, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte, NiO-YSZ anode, and 50% YSZ-50% strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM) cathode were used. In order to characterize the cells, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were utilized and the gas (air) permeability measurements were conducted for gas tightness estimation. When the interlayer was inserted onto NiO-YSZ anode, the surface roughness of anode was diminished by about 40% and dense crack-free electrolytes were obtained. The electrical performance was enhanced remarkably and the maximum power density was 0.57W/cm(2) at 800 degrees C and 0.44W/cm(2) at 700 degrees C. On the other hand, the effect of interlayer on the gas tightness was negligible. The characterization study revealed that the enhancement in the electrical performance was mainly attributed to the increase of ion transmission area of anode/electrolyte interface and the increase of ionic conductivity of dense crack-free electrolyte layer.