Notes on redefined fuzzy implicative filters of lattice implication algebras

The concept of -fuzzy implicative filters of lattice implication algebras is introduced and some of its related properties are investigated. In particular, the relationships among the ordinary fuzzy implicative filters, the (∈,∈∨q)-fuzzy implicative filters and the -fuzzy implicative filters of lattice implication algebras will be studied.     

Automatic free parking space detection by using motion stereo-based 3D reconstruction

This paper proposes a free parking space detection system by using motion stereo-based 3D reconstruction. An image sequence is acquired with a single rearview fisheye camera and the view behind the automobile is three-dimensionally reconstructed by using point correspondences. Metric information is recovered from the camera height ratio and free parking spaces are detected by estimating the positions of adjacent vehicles. Since adjacent vehicles are usually located near the epipole, their structures are seriously degraded. To solve this problem, we select point correspondences by using a de-rotation-based method and mosaic 3D structures by estimating a similarity transformation. Unlike in previous work, our system proposes an efficient way of locating free parking spaces in 3D point clouds. Odometry is not used because its accuracy depends largely on road conditions. In the experiments, the system was tested in 154 different parking situations and its success rate was 90% (139 successes in 154 cases). The detection accuracy was evaluated by using ground truth data that was acquired with a laser scanner.     

Comparison of airborne lidar,aerial photography,and field surveys to model the habitat suitability of a cryptic forest species – the hazel grouse

Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a useful tool for measuring three-dimensional habitat structure; hence, its use in habitat suitability models has been explored, both as a single resource and in combination with other remote-sensing techniques. Here, we evaluated the suitability of airborne lidar data in comparison with aerial photographs and field surveys for modelling the distribution of an endangered and cryptic forest species, the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia). The study was conducted in the Bavarian Forest National Park of southeast Germany. Subsequently, a prediction map for conservation planning was generated for a large area, which encompassed the National Park. We examined the utility of lidar data for generating a hazel grouse distribution model by using machine learning (boosted regression trees), and then compared the results to variables derived from field surveys and aerial photographs, both separately and in combination. The cross-validated discrimination ability of the model was slightly higher when using lidar data (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), 0.79) compared to models using aerial photographs (AUC, 0.75) or field survey data (AUC, 0.78). The predictive performance consistently increased when combining the predictors from different sources, with an AUC of 0.86 being produced in the model combining all three data sources. The three data sources complemented one another, with each data source probably having an advantage at deriving one of three key aspects of the hazel grouse habitat, namely, vertically well-structured forest stands, horizontally mixed successional vegetation stages, and certain deciduous trees as food resources such as mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia). In addition, the diverse lidar metrics might be applied to simultaneously characterize vertically and horizontally well-structured forest stands. We conclude that public available airborne lidar data are a viable source for creating habitat suitability maps for large areas and may have increased utility for detecting forest characteristics and valuable wildlife habitats.     

Sludge settleability detection using automated SV30 measurement and its application to a field WWTP

The need for automation & measurement technologies to detect the process state has been a driving force in the development of various measurements at wastewater treatment plants. While the number of applications of automation & measurement technologies to the field is increasing, there have only been a few cases where they have been applied to the area of sludge settling. This is because it is not easy to develop an automated operation support system for the detection of sludge settleability due to its site-specific characteristics. To automate the human operator's daily test and diagnosis works on sludge settling, an on-line SV30 measurement was developed and an automated detection algorithm on settleability was developed that imitated heuristics to detect settleability faults. The automated SV30 measurement is based on automatic pumping with a predefined schedule, the image capture of the settling test with a digital camera, and an analysis of the images to detect the settled sludge height. A sludge settleability detection method was developed and its applicability was investigated by field application.     

Approaches to study of ischemia in bone

Ischemic osteonecrosis is a complication of certain traumatic and a number of idiopathic conditions. The course of the disease may result in collapse of the convex member of a joint and osteoarthritis, often requiring arthroplasty. Increasing incidence in young adults poses a challenge for development of long-term joint prostheses. Current status of research into the disease is discussed and three new models using intravital microscopy described. The first, an arterial occlusion (AO) model, creates ischemia by occluding the common iliac artery exclusively, avoiding direct trauma on other tissues in the limb. The second, a total occlusion (TO) model utilizes classical tourniquet occlusion of the thigh vessels. The third, a venous occlusion (VO) model, is also a tourniquet procedure but it blocks occlusion of the femoral artery with a protective sheath. Preliminary results from AO and TO studies are reported which show that reperfusion injury is detectible after ischemia doses as short as 4 h. This complication was confirmed by observation of leukocyte adherence, secondary ischemia, and abnormal vessel leakage. Also, a new quantitation of osteonecrosis is introduced whereby fluorescently-tagged dead osteocytes and computer-based image processing provide values for an "osteonecrosis index." Viewing of all vascular events is made possible by intravital microscopy through a bone chamber window implanted in rabbit tibias. It is proposed that such chronic visual techniques allow quantitation of events leading to osteonecrosis as well as the revascularization, resorption and bone apposition of creeping substitution which characterizes postischemia recovery.     

Improved lifetime of highly flexible OLEDs based on multilayered transparent electrodes with enhanced barrier performance

Abstract— Flexible organic light‐emitting diodes (FOLEDs) showing enhanced barrier properties under repeated mechanical stress are reported. By combining metal‐based multilayer transparent electrodes (MTEs) as highly flexible anodes replacing ITO electrodes and sol‐gel organic‐inorganic hybrimers which function as both planarizing films and barrier layers, the proposed FOLEDs not only exhibit a level of performance comparable to that of ITO‐based reference devices but also show a superior mechanical flexibility with “after‐bending” lifetime close to that of ITO‐based devices.     

Understanding the new digital divide—A typology of Internet users in Europe

The purpose of this study is to better understand the digital divide by identifying the variety of ways in which people in Europe use the Internet. First, by using cluster analysis on survey data (N=12,666/age: 16–74 years) from Eurostat on Internet usage in Norway, Sweden, Austria, the UK, and Spain, we identified five user types: Non-Users (42%), Sporadic Users (18%), Instrumental Users (18%), Entertainment Users (10%), and Advanced Users (12%). These user types differ in their distributions over country, age, access, household members, and gender. An alarming finding is that 60% of the population was found to be either Non-Users or Sporadic Users, which reflects a large digital divide in Europe. Second, we conducted a logistic regression to identify the predictors for different user types. We found on a cross-national level that age and Internet access are the most salient predictors, whereas gender and household seems to be less relevant. However, the amount of variance explained differs between countries. We also suggested a future increase in the digital divide between the identified user types—a user type divide. The user typology and the identified predictors might help researchers, practitioners, and decision makers to better understand Internet users and the multi-complex variations among individuals and countries. This knowledge will also serve as a means to understand the digital divide by providing a more nuanced perspective on Europeans' unequal usage of the Internet and participation in an increasingly digital society.     

Gender differences in consumers’ perception of online consumer reviews

Since the early days of the Internet, gender gap has existed in using the Internet, and it is particularly evident for online shopping. Females perceive higher level of risk for online shopping, and as a result, they tend to hesitate to make purchase online. Online consumer reviews can effectively mitigate such perceived risk by females and thereby attract them to buy online. This study investigates the effect of online consumer reviews on consumer’s purchase intention. In particular, we examine whether there are gender differences in responding to online consumer reviews. The results show that the effect of online consumer reviews on purchase intention is stronger for females than males. The negativity effect, that consumers are influenced by a negative review more than by a positive review, is also found to be more evident for females. These findings have practical implications for online sellers to guide them to effectively use online consumer reviews to engage females in online shopping.     

Fitness landscape for simple genetic algorithms supplied with adequate superior order-1 building blocks

Building block hypothesis suggests that the highly-fit low-order schemata recombine with each other to form even more highly-fit high-order ones. One may naturally surmise that the coding should be designed to supply adequate superior order-1 schemata. In this paper, it is showed that, if superior order-1 building blocks are provided at most of the loci, there is likely to be remarkable fitness differences among high-order schemata, which indicates the existence of ‘pulse-shaped’ peaks on the curve of the fitness function. And fitness differences among the individuals are so great within the neighborhoods of these peaks that diversity loss tends to occur when searching within these regions. The results of this paper may to some degree explain why additional measures to maintain diversity should be taken to improve the local search performance of a simple genetic algorithm (GA).