Imaging using inelastically scattered electrons in CTEM and STEM geometry

It is shown that energy filtered transmission electron microscopy images are closely related to energy spectroscopic scanning transmission electron microscopy images. For the case of a single atom, we explore this similarity using both the coupled channels and density matrix approaches. We extend the result to the crystal case and find that the similarity persists, the limiting effects due to energy differences in the scattered electrons being small for typical specimen thicknesses in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.     

Models wagging the dog: are circuits constructed with disparate parameters?

In a recent article, Prinz, Bucher, and Marder (2004) addressed the fundamental question of whether neural systems are built with a fixed blueprint of tightly controlled parameters or in a way in which properties can vary largely from one individual to another, using a database modeling approach. Here, we examine the main conclusion that neural circuits indeed are built with largely varying parameters in the light of our own experimental and modeling observations. We critically discuss the experimental and theoretical evidence, including the general adequacy of database approaches for questions of this kind, and come to the conclusion that the last word for this fundamental question has not yet been spoken.     

Global and task effects in information-seeking among software engineers

Information-seeking strategies were explored in software engineers. A complex interaction of task and geographic differences was revealed. There is a general tendency across software engineers to favor non-social sources, such as documentation, for tasks where the goal is to seek factual information. More social sources are preferred when seeking information to diagnostic, problem-solving questions. Within this effect, some geographic variations assert themselves in a way that might partly be interpreted in terms of national cultural differences in Individualism vs. Collectivism. Implications of geographic differences in information-seeking for collaboration within global software development teams are discussed.

Development of clinical indicators for performance measurement and improvement: an HMO/purchaser collaborative effort

This article describes a collaborative effort between a major health care purchaser, three area health maintenance organizations, and a state Medicaid agency to develop clinical indicators as the basis for a comparison database. Some of the difficulties in developing a "common yardstick" of quality and value are candidly discussed.     

A systolic image difference algorithm for RLE-compressed images

A new systolic algorithm which computes image differences in run-length encoded (RLE) format is described. The binary image difference operation is commonly used in many image processing applications including automated inspection systems, character recognition, fingerprint analysis, and motion detection. The efficiency of these operations can be improved significantly with the availability of a fast systolic system that computes the image difference as described in this paper. It is shown that for images with a high similarity measure, the time complexity of the systolic algorithm is small and, in some cases, constant with respect to the image size. A formal proof of correctness for the algorithm is also given     

Balancing Misclassification Rates in Classification-Tree Models of Software Quality

Software product and process metrics can be useful predictorsof which modules are likely to have faults during operations.Developers and managers can use such predictions by softwarequality models to focus enhancement efforts before release.However, in practice, software quality modeling methods in theliterature may not produce a useful balance between the two kindsof misclassification rates, especially when there are few faultymodules.This paper presents a practical classificationrule in the context of classification tree models that allowsappropriate emphasis on each type of misclassification accordingto the needs of the project. This is especially important whenthe faulty modules are rare.An industrial case study using classification trees, illustrates the tradeoffs.The trees were built using the TREEDISC algorithm whichis a refinement of the CHAID algorithm. We examinedtwo releases of a very large telecommunications system, and builtmodels suited to two points in the development life cycle: theend of coding and the end of beta testing. Both trees had onlyfive significant predictors, out of 28 and 42 candidates, respectively.We interpreted the structure of the classification trees, andwe found the models had useful accuracy.     

Foraging mechanisms of age-0 lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Reaction distances under various light intensities (0-19 uE/m2/s), angles of attack, swimming speeds, and percentage of overall foraging success were measured. Extensive efforts have been invested in restoring lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes, but successful natural recruitment of lake trout continues to be rare outside of Lake Superior and parts of Lake Huron. There is evidence of high mortality during the first several months after eggs hatch in the spring, but little is known about the foraging mechanisms of this age-0 life stage. We developed a foraging model for age-0 lake trout (S. namaycush) in response to amphipods (Hyalella azteca) and mysids (Mysis diluviana) by simulating underwater environmental conditions in the Great Lakes using a temperature-controlled chamber and spectrally matched lighting. Reaction distances under various light intensities (0–19 uE/m²/s), angles of attack, swimming speeds, and percentage of overall foraging success were measured. Intake rates under different light intensities and prey densities were also measured. Age-0 lake trout were non-responsive in the dark, but were equally responsive under all light levels tested. Age-0 lake trout also demonstrated a longer reaction distance in response to moving prey, particularly mysids, which had an escape response that reduced overall foraging success. We determined that prey intake rate (numeric or biomass) could be modeled most accurately as a function of prey density using a Michaelis–Menton equation and that even under low mysid densities (3 individuals/m²), age-0 lake trout could quickly satisfy their energetic demands in a benthic setting.     

Reshaping 3D facial scans for facial appearance modeling and 3D facial expression analysis

3D face scans have been widely used for face modeling and analysis. Due to the fact that face scans provide variable point clouds across frames, they may not capture complete facial data or miss point-to-point correspondences across various facial scans, thus causing difficulties to use such data for analysis. This paper presents an efficient approach to representing facial shapes from face scans through the reconstruction of face models based on regional information and a generic model. A new approach for 3D feature detection and a hybrid approach using two vertex mapping algorithms, displacement mapping and point-to-surface mapping, and a regional blending algorithm are proposed to reconstruct the facial surface detail. The resulting models can represent individual facial shapes consistently and adaptively, establishing facial point correspondences across individual models. The accuracy of the generated models is evaluated quantitatively. The applicability of the models is validated through the application of 3D facial expression recognition using the static 3DFE and dynamic 4DFE databases. A comparison with the state of the art has also been reported.     

Odometry-Based Viterbi Localization with Artificial Neural Networks and Laser Range Finders for Mobile Robots

This paper proposes an approach that solves the Robot Localization problem by using a conditional state-transition Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Through the use of Self Organized Maps (SOMs) a Tolerant Observation Model (TOM) is built, while odometer-dependent transition probabilities are used for building an Odometer-Dependent Motion Model (ODMM). By using the Viterbi Algorithm and establishing a trigger value when evaluating the state-transition updates, the presented approach can easily take care of Position Tracking (PT), Global Localization (GL) and Robot Kidnapping (RK) with an ease of implementation difficult to achieve in most of the state-of-the-art localization algorithms. Also, an optimization is presented to allow the algorithm to run in standard microprocessors in real time, without the need of huge probability gridmaps.     

Modeling of the relative humidity via functional networks and control of the temperature via classic controls for a bird incubator

The control of the relative humidity and the temperature is important for the birds to be born. It is not easy to control the relative humidity, but it is possible to obtain the measure of the relative humidity as a consequence of the control of the temperature in a bird incubator. In this article, (1) the mathematical model for the control of temperature in the bird incubator is presented, (2) a functional network to approximate the relative humidity behavior in the bird incubator is proposed, (3) a control for the temperature in the bird incubator is proposed, the error of the proportional control applied to the mathematical model of the temperature of the bird incubator is assured to be uniformly stable, (4) the comparison results of four classic control laws for the control of the temperature considering the proposed mathematical model of the temperature and the functional network to approximate the relative humidity behavior in the bird incubator are presented.