Probabilistic Support Vector Machine Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Sensor networks play an important role in making the dream of ubiquitous computing a reality. With a variety of applications, sensor networks have the potential to influence everyone's life in the near future. However, there are a number of issues in deployment and exploitation of these networks that must be dealt with for sensor network applications to realize such potential. Localization of the sensor nodes, which is the subject of this paper, is one of the basic problems that must be solved for sensor networks to be effectively used. This paper proposes a probabilistic support vector machine (SVM)‐based method to gain a fairly accurate localization of sensor nodes. As opposed to many existing methods, our method assumes almost no extra equipment on the sensor nodes. Our experiments demonstrate that the probabilistic SVM method (PSVM) provides a significant improvement over existing localization methods, particularly in sparse networks and rough environments. In addition, a post processing step for PSVM, called attractive/repulsive potential field localization, is proposed, which provides even more improvement on the accuracy of the sensor node locations.     

Fault Diagnosis in Multivariate Control Charts Using Artificial Neural Networks

Most multivariate quality control procedures evaluate the in‐control or out‐of‐control condition based upon an overall statistic, like Hotelling's T². Although T² is optimal for finding a general shift in mean vectors, it is not optimal for shifts that occur for some subset of variables. This introduces a persistent problem in multivariate control charts, namely the interpretation of a signal that often discourages practitioners in applying them. In this paper, we propose an artificial neural network based model to diagnose faults in out‐of‐control conditions and to help identify aberrant variables when Shewhart‐type multivariate control charts based on Hotelling's T² are used. The results of the model implementation on two numerical examples and one case of real world data are encouraging. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deformation,yield and fracture of elastomer‐modified polypropylene

In recent decades, great attention has been devoted to the toughening of isotactic poly(propylene) (PP) with elastomers such as ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR). The most important reasons for this interest are the moderate cost and favorable properties of PP. This article is focused on the role of EPR in the deformation and fracture mechanism of PP/EPR blends with different volume fractions of elastomer phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile tests, and microscopy techniques were used in this study. The fracture mechanism of isotactic PP toughened by EPR (PP/EPR) has also been studied by three point bending (3‐PB) and four point bending (4‐PB) tests. Rubber particle cavitation appears to be the main mechanism of microvoid formation, although some matrix/particle debonding was observed. The investigation of the toughening mechanism shows that a wide damage zone spreads in front of the pre‐crack. Optical microscopy (OM) illustrates that, in pure PP, crazing is the only fracture mechanism, and no evidence of shear yielding is found, while in PP blends craze‐like features associated with shear yielding are observed, which have been identified as high shear localized dilatational bands. This type of deformation pattern supports a model previously proposed by Lazzeri 1 to explain the interparticle distance effect on the basis of the stabilization effect on dilatational band propagation exerted by stretched rubber particles. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3767–3779, 2003     

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 and its 32 kDa tryptic fragment.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF-2) can undergo ADP-ribosylation in the absence of diphtheria toxin. The binding of free ADP-ribose and endogenous transferase-dependent ADP-ribosylation were distinct reactions for eEF-2, as indicated by different findings. Incubation of eEF-2 tryptic fragment 32/33 kDa (32F) with NAD was ADP-ribosylated and gave rise to the covalent binding of ADP-ribose to eEF-2. 32F was revealed to be at the C-terminal by Edman degradation sequence analysis. In our study, the elution of 32F from SDS-PAGE was ADP-ribosylated both in the presence and absence of diphtheria toxin. These results suggest that endogenous ADP-ribosylation of 32F might be related to protein synthesis. This modification appears to be important for the cell function.     

The rheological properties of ketchup as a function of different hydrocolloids and temperature

The flow properties of ketchup were assessed upon addition of commonly used food thickeners: guar, xanthan and CMC gum at three different concentrations (0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and four temperatures (25, 35, 45 and 55 °C). The ketchup without supplementation served as a control. All ketchup formulations exhibited non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behaviour at all temperatures and hydrocolloid levels. The Power-law and Herschel-Buckley model were successfully applied to fit the shear stress versus shear rate data. The flow behaviour indices, n and n' , varied in the range of 0.189–0.228 and 0.216–0.263, respectively. The consistency coefficients, k and k' , were in the range of 8.42–27.22 and 6.56–20.10 Pa s ⁿ , respectively. The addition of hydrocolloids increased the yield point (τ₀) and apparent viscosity of the ketchup in comparison to that of the control. The Arrhenius equation was successfully used to describe the effects of temperature on the apparent viscosity of the prepared formulations. The E _a value appeared in the range between 5492.6 and 21475.8 J mol⁻¹.     

Bioleaching of copper from smelter dust in a series of airlift bioreactors

Bioleaching of copper from the flue dust of the Sarcheshmeh copper smelter has been investigated. A series of continuous tests were carried out in two-stages of airlift bioreactors inoculated with the acidophilic, iron and sulfur oxidizing bacteria, initially derived from acid mine drainage. The effects of different parameters such as pulp density, retention time and temperature on the mesophile bioleach performance of the copper sulfide rich dust were evaluated after pre-leaching with dilute acid. Pulp densities of 2% and 4% gave the same oxidation–reduction potential in both reactors. However, increasing the average pulp density to 7% generated an unstable oxidation–reduction potential in the first bioreactor at 34 °C. Overall copper extractions calculated for 2%, 4% and 7% pulp densities were 90%, 89% and 86% with mean retention times of 2.7, 4 and 5 days, respectively. The process is net acid consuming and has the potential for further development and feasibility studies.     

Stoffaustausch zwischen flüssigem Eisen und Schlacke beim Sprühraffinationsverfahren

Erläuterung des Sprühraffinationsverfahrens, bei dem eine Schmelze mit inertem Gas verdüst wird und die entstehenden Metalltropfen durch eine Raffinationsschlacke fallen. Erörterung der Gesetzmäßigkeiten für die Stoffaustauschvorgänge zwischen Metalltropfen und Schlacke. Bestimmung der mittleren Tropfengröße beim Versprühen von kohlenstoffgesättigtem Roheisen. Untersuchung der Wirkung der Sprühraffination am Beispiel der Entschwefelung des Roheisens mit Schlacken des Systems CaO–CaF₂–Al₂O₃ bei 1600 °C. Ermittlung des Stoffübergangskoeffizienten des Schwefels für den umgekehrt transitorischen Phasenkontakt und Vergleich mit Werten bei anderen Techniken des Phasenkontaktes Metall-Schlacke.     

Angiosarcoma (angioendothelioma) of the scalp. An unusual case of scarring alopecia

Angiosarcoma with initial involvement of the scalp is a rare, malignant neoplasm. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman in whom extensive scarring alopecia developed that was proved histologically to be due to angiosarcoma. She had a good initial response to treatment with electron-beam therapy, but after seven months, extensive nodules and indurated areas on the face beyond the borders of the radiation field developed. Subsequently, massive cervical adenopathy and metastases to the lungs, liver, and spleen developed. Angiosarcoma must be differentiated from other malignant blood vessel tumors and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scarring alopecia of the scalp in elderly patients.     

Scheduling flowshops with condition-based maintenance constraint to minimize expected makespan

Flexible job-shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is an extended traditional job-shop scheduling problem, which more approximates to practical scheduling problems. This paper presents a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) based on immune and entropy principle to solve the multi-objective FJSP. In this improved MOGA, the fitness scheme based on Pareto-optimality is applied, and the immune and entropy principle is used to keep the diversity of individuals and overcome the problem of premature convergence. Efficient crossover and mutation operators are proposed to adapt to the special chromosome structure. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on some representative instances, and the comparison with other approaches in the latest papers validates the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.