Estimation for the number of components in a mixture model using stepwise split-and-merge EM algorithm

The main difficulty with EM algorithm for mixture model concerns the number of components, say g. This is the question of model selection, and the EM algorithm itself could not estimate g. On the contrary, the algorithm requires g to be specified before the remaining parameters can be estimated. To solve this problem, a new algorithm, which is called stepwise split-and-merge EM (SSMEM) algorithm, is proposed. The SSMEM algorithm alternately splits and merges components, estimating g and other parameters of components simultaneously. Also, two novel criteria are introduced to efficiently select the components for split or merge. Experimental results on simulated and real data demonstrate the effectivity of the proposed algorithm.     

A cathode readout gas sampling calorimeter with conductive plastic tubes

We constructed and tested a prototype gas sampling electromagnetic calorimeter of the Pb-proportional tube sandwich type. The calorimeter uses conductive plastic tubes and cathode pad readout with a tower structure which resulted in reasonable energy and spatial resolutions for electrons in the momentum range 0.5–4.0 GeV/c; $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{E}}\text{E =}\text{21\%}\text{(E(}\text{GeV}\text{)}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{, σ}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{= 6}\text{mm}\text{(at 3 GeV}$/c). This paper describes the test and the performance studied under various conditions.     

Grain refinement of Al-7Si alloys and the efficiency assessment by recognition of cooling curves

Under sand cup solidification condition, the influence of Ti, B concentration, and holding time on the grain size of a high-purity Al-7Si alloy has been systematically studied. It is found that the grain size decreases rapidly at lower Ti or B additions, and is almost constant at the higher concentrations. For Al-3B refined Al-7Si alloys, the grain size increases at the initial period of holding time, and then rapidly becomes independent of holding time; while for Al-7Si alloys refined with Al-5Ti-1B, the grain size increases with holding time throughout. To evaluate the refinement efficiency, a new method named “intelligent evaluating of melt quality by pattern recognition of thermal analysis cooling curves” has also been introduced in this article. The results show that comparing the cooling curve of the evaluated melt with those in a database to find the most similar one to it can precisely assess the grain refinement efficiency of the measured Al-7Si alloy. In addition, the influence of Ti, B addition levels, and pouring temperatures on some characteristic parameters of cooling curve has also been discussed.     

Perturbation analysis and control of two-class stochastic fluid models for communication networks

This paper uses stochastic fluid models (SFMs) for the control and optimization (rather than performance analysis) of communication network nodes processing two classes of traffic: one is uncontrolled and the other is subject to threshold-based buffer control. We derive gradient estimators for packet loss and workload related performance metrics with respect to threshold parameters. These estimators are shown to be unbiased and directly observable from a sample path without any knowledge of underlying stochastic characteristics of the traffic processes. This renders them computable in online environments and easily implementable for network management and control. We further demonstrate their use in buffer control problems where our SFM-based estimators are evaluated based on data from an actual system.     

Anaerobic biodecolorization of textile reactive anthraquinone and phthalocyanine dyebaths under hypersaline conditions.

The biological decolorization of two industrial, spent textile reactive dyebaths was investigated using a suspended-growth, halophilic mixed culture fed with glucose. Dyebath I contained mainly Reactive Blue 19 (RB19), an anthraquinone dye, whereas dyebath II contained mainly Reactive Blue 21 (RB21), a phthalocyanine dye. Batch assays under anaerobic conditions with the two neutralized dyebaths resulted in 87 and 37% extent of decolorization for dyebaths I and II, respectively. The rate of glucose utilization and the extent of acetate production were impacted in the presence of each dyebath as compared to the control culture. However, dyebath decolorization occurred despite moderate culture inhibition. Reuse of a biologically renovated RB19-containing dyebath in the dyeing process resulted in reproducible but not identical cotton fabric shades as compared to a standard dyeing (i.e., control) using fresh water. This difference is attributed to a variable degree of RB19 aggregation during the dyeing process and is not related to the efficiency of the biodecolorization process. Further improvement of the redyeing efficiency will lead to the development of an in-plant, closed-loop decolorization system resulting in significant water conservation and minimization of textile pollutants such as salt and dyes.     

Linearity stablized fiber-optic thermometer using pseudo-heterodyne phase detection

A temperature sensor using a fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer is described. A pseudo-heterodyne detection scheme is adopted to read the light phase difference in the Fabry-Perot interference output. A higher harmonic components comparison method is used to stabilize the system and to increase detection linearity. This system realizes not only highly sensitive temperature sensing with good linearity and minimal adjusting error, but also application to the sensing of other physical quantities such as vibrations. Additionally, the signal-to-noise ratio and distortion of the detected signal are investigated as functions of fiber end reflectivity. These results will be useful in designing a high performance fiber-optic Fabry-Perot thermometer.     

Hot-carrier reliability of 20V MOS transistors in 0.13 μm CMOS technology

This paper presents results of reliability investigation of 20 V N-Drift MOS transistor in 0.13 μm CMOS technology. Due to high performances required for CMOS applications, adding high voltage devices becomes a big challenge to guarantee the reliability criteria. In this context, new reliability approaches are needed. Safe Operating Area are defined for switch, V_ds limited and V_gs limited applications in order to improve circuit designs. For V_ds limited applications, deep doping dose effects in drift area are investigated in correlation to lifetime evaluations based on device parameter shifts under hot carrier stressing. To further determine the amount and locations of hot carriers injections, accurate 2D technological and electrical simulations are performed and permit to select the best compromise between performance and reliability for N-Drift MOS transistor.     

On Routh-Pade model reduction of interval systems

This paper discusses another generalization of the direct Routh table truncation method for interval systems. It is shown that the existing generalization of the direct Routh table truncation fails to produce a stable system, in contradiction to the equivalent result for fixed-coefficients systems. The present method guarantees a stable reduced order model for interval systems as well.