Modeling tool wear in end-milling using enhanced GMDH learning networks

This paper presents an enhanced approach to predictive modeling for determining tool-wear in end-milling operations based on enhanced-group method of data handling (e-GMDH). Using milling input parameters (speed, feed, and depth-of-cut) and response (tool wear), the data for the model is partitioned into training and testing datasets, and the training dataset is used to realize a predictive model that is a function of the input parameters and the coefficients determined. In our approach, we first present a methodology for modeling, and then develop predictive model(s) of the problem being solved in the form of second-order equations based on the input data and coefficients realized. This approach leads to some generalization because it becomes possible to predict not only the test data obtained during experimentation, but other test data outside the experimental results can also be used. Moreover, this approach makes it easy to present the realized solution in a form that can be further optimized for the input parameters using some optimization techniques. The results realized using our e-GMDH method are promising, and the comparative study presented shows that the e-GMDH outperforms polynomial neural network (PNN); moreover, it is more flexible than the conventional GMDH, which tends to produce nonlinear solutions even for simple problems. In the investigation, the extended particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique was applied to obtain the optimal parameters. Consequently, the modeling approach is extremely useful in realizing a computer-aided process-planning system in an advanced manufacturing environment.     

A Web-based Kanban system for job dispatching, tracking, and performance monitoring

A Kanban system facilitates lean principles in a simple and effective way. While reportedly successful in many manufacturing firms, the conventional Kanban systems using physical cards suffer from human errors, limited tracking capability, and so on. To make the information flow leaner, software providers add new features to their existing programs for manufacturing systems to computerize Kanban activities. As Web-based technologies advance rapidly, developing an entirely Web-based Kanban system appears to be feasible and promising. This paper presents the advantages, limitations, and challenges of Web-based Kanban systems. An experimental program has been developed based on PHP+MySQL, a popular Web programming platform. The server-executed program features cross-platform compatibility, real-time tracking and performance monitoring, and greatly enhanced information contents compared to physical Kanbans. Human errors are minimized by the automated transactions; nevertheless, the interfacing and data maintenance require further research efforts.     

"What is in a word? No versus Yes differentially engage the lateral orbitofrontal cortex": Correction.

Reports an error in "What is in a word? No versus Yes differentially engage the lateral orbitofrontal cortex" by Nelly Alia-Klein, Rita Z. Goldstein, Dardo Tomasi, Lei Zhang, Stephanie Fagin-Jones, Frank Telang, Gene-Jack Wang, Joanna S. Fowler and Nora D. Volkow (Emotion, 2007[Aug], Vol 7[3], 649-659). The supplemental materials link should appear as follows: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.7.3.649.supp. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2007-11660-018.) The words "No" and "Yes" are involved in conditioning to prohibit or encourage behavior, respectively. The authors, therefore, hypothesized that these words would be attributed to endogenous valence, activating neuronal circuits involved with valence and emotional control. Functional MRI (fMRI) at 4 Tesla was used to record regional brain activity while participants were exposed to emphatic vocalizations of the words. Results showed that No and Yes were associated with opposite brain-behavior responses; while No was negatively valenced, produced slower response times, and evoked a negative signal in the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), Yes was positively valenced, produced faster response times, and evoked a positive signal in a contiguous region of the OFC. Attribution of negative valence to No and trait anger control were associated with increased responsivity of the OFC to No. Inasmuch as sensitivity to the prohibitive command No develops during childhood through interaction with primary caregivers as the first social objects, our findings may implicate the lateral OFC in the neurobiology of emotion regulation and subsequent social development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frequency weighting for the evaluation of steering wheel rotational vibration

The human perception of rotational hand–arm vibration has been investigated by means of a test rig consisting of a rigid frame, an electrodynamic shaker unit, a rigid steering wheel, a shaft assembly, bearings and an automobile seat. Fifteen subjects were tested while seated in a driving posture. Four equal sensation tests and one annoyance threshold test were performed using sinusoidal excitation at 18 frequencies in the range from 3 to 315 Hz. In order to guarantee the generality of the equal sensation data, the four tests were defined to permit checks of the possible influence of three factors: reference signal amplitude, psychophysical test procedure and temporary threshold shift caused by the test exposure. All equal sensation tests used a reference sinusoid of 63 Hz at either 1.0 or 1.5 m/s² r.m.s. in amplitude. The four equal sensation curves were similar in shape and suggested a decrease in human sensitivity to hand–arm rotational vibration with increasing frequency. The slopes of the equal sensation curves changed at transition points of approximately 6.3 and 63 Hz. A frequency weighting, called W_s, was developed for the purpose of evaluating steering wheel rotational vibration. The proposed W_s has a slope of 0 dB per octave over the frequency range from 3 to 6.3 Hz, a slope of −6 dB per octave from 6.3 to 50 Hz, a slope of 0 dB per octave from 50 to 160 Hz and a slope of −10 dB per octave from 160 to 315 Hz. W_s provides a possible alternative to the existing W_h frequency weighting defined in International Standards Organisation 5349-1 (2001) and British Standards Institution BS 6842 (1987).

Relevance to industry

For the manufacturers of tyres, steering systems and other vehicular components the proposed W_s frequency weighting provides a more accurate representation of human perception of steering wheel rotational vibration than the W_h weighting of ISO 5349-1 and BS6842.     

Evaluation of passive microwave snow water equivalent algorithms in the depth hoar-dominated snowpack of the Kuparuk River Watershed, Alaska, USA

This research investigates the utility of passive microwave remote sensing instruments to accurately determine snow water equivalent (SWE) over large spatial extents. Three existing Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) snow water equivalent algorithms produced by Chang, Tait and Goodison were evaluated for their ability to determine snow water equivalent in a snowpack containing substantial depth hoar, large faceted snow crystals. The Kuparuk River Watershed (8140 km²) test site on the North Slope of Alaska was chosen for its snowpack containing a think depth hoar layer and long history of ground truth data. A new regional snow water equivalent algorithm was developed to determine if it could produce better results than the existing algorithms in an area known to contain significant depth hoar. The four algorithms were tested to see how well they could determine snow water equivalent: (1) on a per pixel basis, (2) across swath-averaged spatial bands of approximately 850 km², and (3) on a watershed scale. The algorithms were evaluated to see if they captured the annual spatial distribution in snow water equivalent over the watershed. Results show that the algorithms developed by Chang and from this research are generally within 3 cm of the spatially averaged snow water equivalents over the entire watershed. The algorithms produced by Chang, Tait, and in this research were able to predict the basin-wide ground measured snow water equivalent value within a percent error range from −32.4% to 24.4% in the years with a typical snowpack. None of the algorithms produce accurate results on a pixel-by-pixel scale, with errors ranging from −26% to 308%.     

A distributed adverse drug reaction detection system using intelligent agents with a fuzzy recognition‐primed decision model

Discovering unknown adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in postmarketing surveillance as early as possible is highly desirable. Nevertheless, current postmarketing surveillance methods largely rely on spontaneous reports that suffer from serious underreporting, latency, and inconsistent reporting. Thus these methods are not ideal for rapidly identifying rare ADRs. The multiagent systems paradigm is an emerging and effective approach to tackling distributed problems, especially when data sources and knowledge are geographically located in different places and coordination and collaboration are necessary for decision making. In this article, we propose an active, multiagent framework for early detection of ADRs by utilizing electronic patient data distributed across many different sources and locations. In this framework, intelligent agents assist a team of experts based on the well‐known human decision‐making model called Recognition‐Primed Decision (RPD). We generalize the RPD model to a fuzzy RPD model and utilize fuzzy logic technology to not only represent, interpret, and compute imprecise and subjective cues that are commonly encountered in the ADR problem but also to retrieve prior experiences by evaluating the extent of matching between the current situation and a past experience. We describe our preliminary multiagent system design and illustrate its potential benefits for assisting expert teams in early detection of previously unknown ADRs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 827–845, 2007.     

R. K. Merton — Life time of influence

In this article, “Life time of influence” refers to Robert K. Merton's impact broadly, and emblematically, to his influence upon my work. The article discusses 1) the scope and influence of Merton's ideas about social structure and explanations of social processes; 2) his vast scholarship establishing the study of science as a social institution, with implications for theory and research; and 3) his fostering of the social study of science through immense published work, and through impact upon an inter-generational network of scholars. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Metal—Metal Triple Bonds Possessing the Electron-Rich σ2π4δ2δ*2 Electronic Configuration

The structural and reaction chemistry of dimetal complexes containing metal—metal triple bonds of the electron-rich type (σ²π⁴δ²δ^*2 configuration) is reviewed. Metal cores possessing this unit are Mo²⁺₂, Re⁴⁺₂, Ru⁶⁺₂, and Os⁶⁺₂, of which only Re⁴⁺₂ has yet been subject to a detailed study. Emphasis is placed upon the more recent developments in this field.     

Ionization of Acetylacetone in Me2SO—Water Mixtures. Reactivity—Selectivity Principle or Principle of Imperfect Synchronization?

Rate constants for the reversible deprotonation of acetylacetone were measured in carboxylate and amine buffers in water and in 50%, 90% and 95% Me₂SO at 20°C. The Brønsted plot for the carboxylate ions is curved in the Me₂SO—water mixtures, but straight in water. The curvature is in the direction predicted by the Reactivity—Selectivity Principle (RSP). However, the Brønsted plot for the reaction with primary amines is straight in all solvents. This suggests that the curvature observerd with the carboxylate ions is caused by loss of solvation of the base; this loss of solvation is ahead of bond formation in the transition state rather than being a manifestation of the RSP. (Note that all Brønsted plots are based on pK_a values measured in the respective solvents.) The intrinsic rate constant (k₀) for proton transfer increases with the addition of Me₂SO, and more so with the carboxylate buffers than with the amines. This increase in k₀ is attributed to delayed solvation of the developing enolate ion in the transition state; with the carboxylate buffers, an additional factor is the early loss of solvation of the base. The various solvation effects observed in this study can all be understood in the context of the Principle of Imperfect Synchronization (PIS).     

Exceptions that prove the rule--Using a theory of motivated social cognition to account for ideological incongruities and political anomalies: Reply to Greenberg and Jonas (2003).

A meta-analysis by J. T. Jost, J. Glaser, A. W. Kruglanski, and F. J. Sulloway (2003) concluded that political conservatism is partially motivated by the management of uncertainty and threat. In this reply to J. Greenberg and E. Jonas (2003), conceptual issues are clarified, numerous political anomalies are explained, and alleged counterexamples are incorporated with a dynamic model that takes into account differences between "young" and "old" movements. Studies directly pitting the rigidity-of-the-right hypothesis against the ideological extremity hypothesis demonstrate strong support for the former. Medium to large effect sizes describe relations between political conservatism and dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity; lack of openness to experience; uncertainty avoidance; personal needs for order, structure, and closure; fear of death; and system threat. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)