Data fusion with flexible message composition in Driver-in-the-Loop vehicular CPS

This work addresses a unique data fusion problem in Vehicular Cyber-Physical Systems (VCPS) arising from Human Factors (HF) considerations. Typically, a VCPS message intended for human drivers is composed of many data elements (DEs), and different messages can be fused by the sender before transmission e.g., by eliminating identical (or redundant) DEs in order to save transmission bandwidth in the wireless network. Still, not all distinct DEs can be received properly due to the limited transmission resources available to the sender and/or transmission errors. Subsequently, some of the messages intended for a driver cannot be delivered. On the other hand, a partially delivered message may still be beneficial (in terms of generating some utility) to a driver. More specifically, when considering HF, the DEs can be grouped into two distinct parts: essential and auxiliary. While a partially reconstructed message missing even a single essential DE fails to produce any benefit (or utility) for a driver, each auxiliary DE can independently produce an additional utility so long as all the essential DEs of the message are also available.In this paper, we deal with a new Driver-in-the-Loop Data Fusion Problem (DDFP) with the primary issue being: given a list of out-going messages and a limit on the number of DEs that can be transmitted, how does the sender choose which DEs (each carrying a different utility) to transmit, in order to maximize the system-wide utility at the receiver. We formulate DDFP mathematically, and prove it to be NP-Complete. We study DDFP in both ideal and lossy communication networks, and propose several efficient algorithms for them. Besides the Single-Sender-Single-Receiver model, we also look into DDFP in Multiple-Sender-Single-Receiver and Single-Sender-Multiple-Receiver models with several practical considerations. Numerical results from large scale simulations are also presented.     

Superconducting State Parameters of (Ni33Zr67)1?xMx (M = Ti, V, Co, Cu) Ternary Amorphous Superconductors

The theoretical investigations of the superconducting state parameters (SSP) viz. electron-phonon coupling strength λ, Coulomb pseudopotential μ ^∗, transition temperature T _C , isotope effect exponent α and effective interaction strength N _O V of (Ni₃₃Zr₆₇)_1−x M _x (M=Ti,V,Co,Cu) ternary amorphous superconductors have been reported using Ashcroft’s empty core (EMC) model potential. Five different types of local field correction functions proposed by Hartree (H), Taylor (T), Ichimaru-Utsumi (IU), Farid et al. (F) and Sarkar et al. (S) are used in the present investigation to study the screening influence on the aforesaid properties. The T _C obtained from Sarkar et al. (S) local field correction function are found in excellent agreement with available theoretical data. Quadratic T _C equation has been proposed, which provides successfully the T _C values of ternary amorphous alloys under consideration. Also, the present results are found to be in qualitative agreement with other such earlier reported data, which confirms the superconducting phase in the superconductors.     

Biaxial tensile behavior of spunbonded nonwoven geotextiles

Geotextiles can be successfully employed for any geotechnical application when they are able to sustain pre-defined levels of tensile stresses. The biaxial tensile test has an advantage over other tensile test methods in that it does not allow “necking” during deformation which simulates the operational conditions of geotextiles under confined stresses. In this study, the model for uniaxial tensile behavior of nonwovens has been modified to investigate the biaxial tensile behavior of spunbonded geotextiles. The model has included the effect of fiber re-orientation, stress-strain behavior of constituent fibers, and physical characteristics of nonwovens when the geotextile specimen is laterally constrained. A comparison is made between predicted and experimental stress-strain curves obtained from previous work (Bais-Singh and Goswami, 1998). Theoretical findings of biaxial tensile behavior obtained using the layer theory are also critically discussed. In addition, it has been revealed that fiber re-orientation is a key factor in translating the random spunbonded nonwoven geotextiles to anisotropic structures under defined biaxial tensile stresses.     

Effect of ash on maximum thickness of plastic layer of coals

A study of the effect of ash yield on the maximum thickness of the plastic layer (MTPL) of some coking coals (as measured by the Sapozhnikov plastometer) has revealed that with an increase in the former the latter in general decre?es. A rectilinear relation approximately exists between the ash percentage (dry basis) and log MTPL values of coals. For the samples studied, a multiple correlation incorporating the rank factor was found to be unnecessary. Higher Fe₂O₃ and SO₃ contents from the coal were found to be associated with higher MTPL values.     

Structuring Optimizing Transformations and Proving Them Sound

A compiler optimization is sound if the optimized program that it produces is semantically equivalent to the input program. The proofs of semantic equivalence are usually tedious. To reduce the efforts required, we identify a set of common transformation primitives that can be composed sequentially to obtain specifications of optimizing transformations. We also identify the conditions under which the transformation primitives preserve semantics and prove their sufficiency. Consequently, proving the soundness of an optimization reduces to showing that the soundness conditions of the underlying transformation primitives are satisfied.The program analysis required for optimization is defined over the input program whereas the soundness conditions of a transformation primitive need to be shown on the version of the program on which it is applied. We express both in a temporal logic. We also develop a logic called temporal transformation logic to correlate temporal properties over a program (seen as a Kripke structure) and its transformation.An interesting possibility created by this approach is a novel scheme for validating optimizer implementations. An optimizer can be instrumented to generate a trace of its transformations in terms of the transformation primitives. Conformance of the trace with the optimizer can be checked through simulation. If soundness conditions of the underlying primitives are satisfied by the trace then it preserves semantics.     

Superconducting State Parameters of 5d-Transition Metals Based Binary Alloys

The theoretical study of the superconducting state parameters (SSP) viz. electron–phonon coupling strength λ, Coulomb pseudopotential μ ^*, transition temperature T _C , isotope effect exponent α and effective interaction strength N _O V of 5d-transition metals based binary alloys have been made extensively in the present work using a model potential for the first time. A considerable influence of various exchange and correlation functions on λ and μ ^* is found from the present study. The present results of the SSP are found in qualitative agreement with the available experimental data wherever it exists.     

On simultaneous on-line state and parameter estimation in non-linear state-space models

On-line estimation plays an important role in process control and monitoring. Obtaining a theoretical solution to the simultaneous state-parameter estimation problem for non-linear stochastic systems involves solving complex multi-dimensional integrals that are not amenable to analytical solution. While basic sequential Monte-Carlo (SMC) or particle filtering (PF) algorithms for simultaneous estimation exist, it is well recognized that there is a need for making these on-line algorithms non-degenerate, fast and applicable to processes with missing measurements. To overcome the deficiencies in traditional algorithms, this work proposes a Bayesian approach to on-line state and parameter estimation. Its extension to handle missing data in real-time is also provided. The simultaneous estimation is performed by filtering an extended vector of states and parameters using an adaptive sequential-importance-resampling (SIR) filter with a kernel density estimation method. The approach uses an on-line optimization algorithm based on Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence to allow adaptation of the SIR filter for combined state-parameter estimation. An optimal tuning rule to control the width of the kernel and the variance of the artificial noise added to the parameters is also proposed. The approach is illustrated through numerical examples.     

Variability of mesopause temperature derived from two independent methods using meteor radar and its comparison with SABER and EOS MLS and a collocated multi-wavelength dayglow photometer over an equatorial station,Thumba (8.5° N, 76.5° E)

Two independent methods for deriving mesopause temperature using meteor radar installed at an equatorial station, Thumba (8.5° N, 76.5° E), are discussed in this article. This meteor radar-derived mesopause temperature is then compared with two different types of spaceborne measurement, namely (i) Sounding the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) and (ii) the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder (EOS MLS), and a collocated multi-wavelength dayglow photometer (DGPM). The meteor radar-derived temperature is in fairly good agreement with all the three measurement techniques, with an uncertainty of ±10°. This study focuses on a detailed evaluation and inter-comparison of mesopause temperature derived from different measurement techniques. An attempt is also made to compare the suitability of these observations to study planetary waves and other oscillation activities in the mesospheric region.