An Approach to Data Reduction and Integrated Machine Classification

The goal of the paper is to propose a novel approach to integrated machine classification and to investigate the effect of integration of the data reduction with data mining stage. The integration of both important steps of knowledge discovery in databases is recognized as a vital step towards improving effectiveness of the data mining effort. After having the introduced data reduction and integration schemes a solution to the integrated classification problem is proposed. The proposed algorithm allows for integrating data reduction through simultaneous instance and feature selection, with learning process using population-based and A-Team techniques. To validate the proposed approach and to investigate the effect of data reduction combined with different integration schemes, the computation experiment has been carried out. Experiment based on several benchmark datasets has shown that integrated data reduction and classifier learning outperform traditional approaches.     

The ‘wet dog’ effect in polymers as seen by thermoluminescence

It is shown that maxima of the thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve obtained from irradiated polymer containing molecularly dispersed chromophore coincide with the sub-T_g molecular relaxations, what can be related to the so called ‘wet dog’ effect. Good correlation has been found between the positions of the TL maxima and the molecular β- and γ-relaxations in different poly(alkyl methacrylate)s (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, n-butyl), and polystyrene doped with various chromophores: pyrene, carbazole and perylene. Additionally δ-relaxation has been detected at very low temperatures. The positions of the maxima in the TL spectra are independent of the used chromophore. In spite of the observed coincidence, the activation energies of the detrapping processes determined from the TL experiments are lower than the activation energies of the corresponding molecular relaxations determined from the dielectric spectroscopy. Spectral analyses of the light emitted at temperatures close to the TL maxima show that the ratio between excimeric and monomeric emissions is higher at higher temperatures, reflecting higher ability of the chromophore molecules to form excimers.     

Iterative Antirandom Testing

Antirandom testing is a variation of pure random testing, which is the process of generating random patterns and applying it to a system under test (both software systems and hardware systems). However, research studies have shown that pure random testing is relatively less effective at fault detection than other testing techniques. Antirandom testing improves the fault-detection capability of random testing by employing the location information of previously executed test cases. In antirandom testing we select test case such that it is as different as possible from all the previous executed test cases. Unfortunately, this method essentially requires enumeration of the input space and computation of each input pattern when used on an arbitrary set of existing test data. This avoids scale-up to large test sets and (or) long input vectors. The objective of this paper is to find a more efficient method of the test generation which does not need any computation. The key idea of proposed approach is an iterative application of the short antirandom tests where the first test vector in each iteration is generated randomly. Moreover, we propose a new metric the Maximal Minimal Hamming Distance (MMHD) which allows us to define an optimal antirandom test with restricted number of patterns. Experimental results are given to evaluate the performance of the new approach.     

Multiple defect core photonic crystal fiber with high birefringence induced by squeezed lattice with elliptical holes in soft glass

We present a dual mode, large core highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber with a photonic cladding composed of elliptical holes ordered in a rectangular lattice. The fiber is made of borosilicate glass and has a regular set of elliptical holes with an aspect ratio of 1.27 and a filling factor near 0.5. The group birefringence (G) and effective mode area were measured at 1550 nm for the fundamental mode and were found to equal 2 × 10^?4 and 20 μm² respectively. We discuss the influence of structural parameters including the ellipticity of the air holes and the aspect ratio of the rectangular lattice on the birefringence and on the fundamental and second modes of the fiber.     

Conditions for Accurate CFD Modeling of Spray-Drying Process

The paper presents concluding results of extensive experimental and theoretical research on confident CFD modeling of spray drying. An earlier developed experimental method to determine spray-drying kinetics in a lab scale allowed us to find a critical material moisture content and to determine generalized spray-drying curves. The generalized drying curves, identical in shape in the laboratory and pilot plant units, were used in the CFD model of spray drying process. Extensive simulations for spray drying of 10, 30, and 50% of initial solid content of maltodextrin proved high accuracy of the predictions of discrete (particle size distribution, particle moisture content, particle velocity, spray temperature) and continuous-phase parameters (gas temperature and humidity). Maximum error of the predictions of discrete-phase parameters was on the level of 20%, which is probably close to the current capacity of the CFD technique for modeling of spray-drying process. Comparison of experimental measurements and theoretical results shows that incorporation of realistic spray-drying kinetics into the CFD model and correct definition of initial drying and atomization parameters enable reliable simulations of spray-drying process.     

Impact of physiological state of starter culture on ripening and flavour development of Swiss–Dutch‐type cheese

The changes in the physiological state and metabolism of starter culture in 15kg Swiss–Dutch‐type cheese blocks during two‐stage ripening were studied. The analyses were performed on samples from three layers of cheese between the rind and the core. Cell membrane integrity, intracellular esterase activity and bacteria culturability were chosen as physiological state indicators. Cheese flavour development was determined by static headspace gas chromatography. During warm room ripening, the number of cells with intact cell membranes and displaying intracellular esterase activity increased. Lactic acid bacteria underwent resuscitation and regained their culturability. A lack of homogeneity within the cheese was noticed in relation to bacterial activity and the volatiles concentration.     

Influence of fibre orientation on acoustic emission from filament wound pipes

The effect of the winding angle of filament wound pipes internally pressurized was investigated by means of the acoustic emission technique. The acoustic emission results were correlated with the theoretical data of the state of stress at the matrix-fibre boundary. The experimental results showed that acoustic emission strongly depended on fibre orientation. Acoustic emission signals were mainly caused by two types of failure of the composite: debonding on the matrix-fibre interface and transverse cracks in the lamina. The influence of fibre rotation on the acoustic emission behaviour was also taken into account. It is stated that the significant start of acoustic emission is due to cohesive cracking at the matrix-fibre boundary when the normal stress, to the fibre overreached the critical value of 11.5 MPa for all considered fibre orientations.     

Screening of Self-Assembling of Collagen IV Fragments into Stable Structures Potentially Useful in Regenerative Medicine

The aim of the research was to check whether it is possible to use fragments of type IV collagen to obtain, as a result of self-assembling, stable spatial structures that could be used to prepare new materials useful in regenerative medicine. Collagen IV fragments were obtained by using DMT/NMM/TosO⁻ as a coupling reagent. The ability to self-organize and form stable spatial structures was tested by the CD method and microscopic techniques. Biological studies covered: resazurin assay (cytotoxicity assessment) on BJ, BJ-5TA and C2C12 cell lines; an alkaline version of the comet assay (genotoxicity), Biolegend Legendplex human inflammation panel 1 assay (SC cell lines, assessment of the inflammation activity) and MTT test to determine the cytotoxicity of the porous materials based on collagen IV fragments. It was found that out of the pool of 37 fragments (peptides 1–33 and 2.1–2.4) reconstructing the outer sphere of collagen IV, nine fragments (peptides: 2, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 25, 26 and 30), as a result of self-assembling, form structures mimicking the structure of the triple helix of native collagens. The stability of spatial structures formed as a result of self-organization at temperatures of 4 °C, 20 °C, and 40 °C was found. The application of the MST method allowed us to determine the K_d of binding of selected fragments of collagen IV to ITGα1β1. The stability of the spatial structures of selected peptides made it possible to obtain porous materials based on their equimolar mixture. The formation of the porous materials was found for cross-linked structures and the material stabilized only by weak interactions. All tested peptides are non-cytotoxic against all tested cell lines. Selected peptides also showed no genotoxicity and no induction of immune system responses. Research on the use of porous materials based on fragments of type IV collagen, able to form stable spatial structures as scaffolds useful in regenerative medicine, will be continued.