Using genetic algorithm to select the presentation order of training patterns that improves simplified fuzzy ARTMAP classification performance

The presentation order of training patterns to a simplified fuzzy ARTMAP (SFAM) neural network affects the classification performance. The common method to solve this problem is to use several simulations with training patterns presented in random order, where voting strategy is used to compute the final performance. Recently, an ordering method based on min–max clustering was introduced to select the presentation order of training patterns based on a single simulation. In this paper, another single simulation method based on genetic algorithm is proposed to obtain the presentation order of training patterns for improving the performance of SFAM. The proposed method is applied to a 40-class individual classification problem using visual evoked potential signals and three other datasets from UCI repository. The proposed method has the advantages of improved classification performance, smaller network size and lower training time compared to the random ordering and min–max methods. When compared to the random ordering method, the new ordering scheme has the additional advantage of requiring only a single simulation. As the proposed method is general, it can also be applied to a fuzzy ARTMAP neural network when it is used as a classifier.     

Video personalization in heterogeneous and resource-constrained environments

Access to multimedia data and multimedia services is becoming increasingly common in networked mobile environments. In such environments, both the mobile client devices and multimedia servers are typically resource constrained. Moreover, the mobile client population is often heterogeneous in terms of the clients’ preferences with regard to multimedia content, the clients’ quality of service requirements and system-level resource constraints. In order to provide a resource-constrained mobile client with its desired video content, it is often necessary to personalize the requested multimedia content in a manner that satisfies simultaneously the various client-specified content preferences and the system-level resource constraints. Also, in order to simultaneously reduce the client-experienced latency, provide optimal quality of service to the clients and ensure efficient utilization of server and network resources, it is necessary to perform client request aggregation on the server end. To this end, a video personalization strategy is proposed to provide mobile, resource-constrained clients with personalized video content that is most relevant to the clients’ requests while satisfying simultaneously multiple client-side system-level resource constraints. A client request aggregation strategy is also proposed to cluster client requests with similar video content preferences and similar client-side resource constraints such that the number of requests the server needs to process and service, and the client-experienced latency are both reduced simultaneously. The primary contributions of the paper are: (1) the formulation and implementation of a Multiple-choice Multi-dimensional Knapsack Problem (MMKP)-based video personalization strategy; and (2) the design and implementation of a client request aggregation strategy based on a multi-stage clustering algorithm. Experimental results comparing the proposed MMKP-based video personalization strategy to existing 0/1 Knapsack Problem (0/1KP)-based and the Fractional Knapsack Problem (FKP)-based video personalization strategies are presented. It is observed that: (1) the proposed MMKP-based personalization strategy includes more relevant video content in response to the client’s request compared to the existing 0/1KP-based and FKP-based personalization strategies; and (2) in contrast to the 0/1KP-based and FKP-based personalization strategies which can satisfy only a single client-side resource constraint at a time, the proposed MMKP-based personalization strategy is capable of satisfying multiple client-side resource constraints simultaneously. Experimental results comparing the client-experienced latency with and without the proposed server-side client request aggregation strategy are also presented. It is shown that the proposed client request aggregation strategy reduces the mean client-experienced latency without significant reduction in the average relevance of the delivered video content and without significant deviation in the client-side resources actually consumed by the delivered video content from the client-specified resource constraints.     

Selective oxidation reactions over titanium and vanadium metallosilicate molecular sieves

Selective oxidation reactions like the oxyfunctionalization of alkanes, hydroxylation of aromatics and sulfoxidation of thioethers have been carried out with dilute hydrogen peroxide over titanium and vanadium metallosilicate molecular sieves with MEL topology, viz., TS-2 and VS-2. Though both the catalysts possess similar activities, substantial differences in the product distribution are observed. The oxyfunctionalization of the primary carbon atoms of the alkanes and the oxidation of the methyl substituents of the aromatic hydrocarbons distinguish VS-2 from TS-2. Both the catalysts are found to be equally active in the hydroxylation of phenol, though they possess different activities in different solvents. In general, the oxidations are deeper over VS-2 than on TS-2.     

A flexible and recoverable client/server database event notification system

A software architecture is presented that allows client application programs to interact with a DBMS server in a flexible and powerful way, using either direct, volatile messages, or messages sent via recoverable queues. Normal requests from clients to the server and replies from the server to clients can be transmitted using direct or recoverable messages. In addition, an application event notification mechanism is provided, whereby client applications running anywhere on the network can register for events, and when those events are raised, the clients are notified. A novel parameter passing mechanism allows a set of tuples to be included in an event notification. The event mechanism is particularly useful in an active DBMS, where events can be raised by triggers to signal running application programs. Received July 21, 1995 / Accepted May 30, 1996     

High Output Saturation and High-Linearity Uni-Traveling-Carrier Waveguide Photodiodes

Waveguide uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes (UTC-PDs) have been fabricated and tested. Output saturation currents greater than 40 mA at 1 GHz are demonstrated for a 10 mumtimes150mum photodiode (PD). The third-order intermodulation distortion is also measured and exhibits a third-order output intercept point of 43 dBm at 20 mA and 34 dBm at 40 mA for this same PD. UTC-PDs with geometries of 5 mumtimes100 mum and 10 mumtimes100 mum are also compared and it is shown that a wider waveguide PD has improved saturation characteristics due to the lower optical power density which reduces the saturation at the front end of the device     

Rate of release of spruce budworm pheromone from virgin females and synthetic lures

The rate of pheromone [(E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecenal] release from calling virginChoristoneura fumiferana females and synthetic lures was determined in both static and aerated atmospheres. In a static system ca. 2 ng/hr was recovered per female. Owing to the > 75% adsorption onto the females' bodies in static atmospheres, the actual release rate has to be corrected to roughly 9–27 ng/hr, depending on the percentage adsorbed. In the air-flow system, females were found to release between 4 and 20 ng/hr. On a 168 light-dark cycle, calling began 1–2 hr before lights-off and continued nonstop until lights-on. Pheromone was emitted throughout calling, while no pheromone was detected during the noncalling periods.Lepidoptera: Tortricidae.Published as Journal Article No. 10258 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Effect of shear deformation on interfacial stresses in plated beams subjected to arbitrary loading

Bonding a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite or metallic plate to the soffit of a reinforced concrete (RC), timber or metallic beam can significantly increase its strength and other aspects of structural performance. These hybrid beams are often found to fail due to premature debonding of the plate from the original beam in a brittle manner. This has led to the development of many analytical solutions over the last two decades to quantify the interfacial shear and normal stresses between the adherends. The adherends are subjected to axial, bending and shear deformations. However, most analytical solutions have neglected the influence of shear deformation of the adherends. For the few solutions which consider this effect in an approximate manner, their applicability is limited to one or two specific load cases. This paper presents a general analytical solution for the interfacial stresses in plated beams under an arbitrary loading with the shear deformation of the adherends duly considered. The shear stress distribution is assumed to be parabolic through the depth of the adherends in predicting the interfacial shear stress and Timoshenko's beam theory is adopted in predicting interfacial normal stress to account for the shear deformation. The solution is applicable to a beam of arbitrary prismatic cross-section bonded symmetrically or asymmetrically with a thin or thick plate, both having linear elastic material properties. The effect of shear deformation is illustrated through an example beam. The influence of material and geometric parameters of the adherends and adhesive on the interfacial stress concentrations at the plate end is discussed.     

OSMOTIC DRYING KINETICS OF CYLINDRICAL APPLE SLICES OF DIFFERENT SIZES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the osmotic drying kinetics of cylindrical slices of apples as influenced by particle size at different concentrations of sucrose solutions and different temperatures. Osmotic drying was carried out, with cut apple cylinders of three different sizes (12, 17 and 20mm diameter), all with a length to diameter ratio of 1:1, in a well agitated large tank containing the osmotic solution at the desired temperature. The solution to fruit volume ratio was kept greater than 60. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used with dive levels of sucrose concentrations (34-63°Brix) and five temperatures (34-66°C). Kinetic parameters included weight loss, moisture loss, solids gain, rates of moisture loss and solids gain generally increased with increasing treatment time, temperature and concentration of osmotic solution, and decreased with an increase in sample size. The parameter “osmotic drying time to achieve a given moisture loss” obviously showed the opposite. Composite models were developed to describe the effect of process variables and particle size on the drying behavior of apple slices.     

Optimization of Lithium Content and Sintering Aid for Maximized Li+ Conductivity and Density in Ta‐Doped Li7La3Zr2O12

Ta‐doped cubic phase Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZ) lithium garnet received considerable attention in recent times as prospective electrolyte for all‐solid‐state lithium battery. Although the conductivity has been improved by stabilizing the cubic phase with the Ta⁵⁺ doping for Zr⁴⁺ in LLZ, the density of the pellet was found to be relatively poor with large amount of pores. In addition to the high Li⁺ conductivity, density is also an essential parameter for the successful application of LLZ as solid electrolyte membrane in all‐solid‐state lithium battery. Systematic investigations carried out through this work indicated that the optimal Li concentration of 6.4 (i.e., Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂) is required to obtain phase pure, relatively dense and high Li⁺ conductive cubic phase in Li_7?xLa₃Zr_2?xTa_xO₁₂ solid solutions. Effort has been also made in this work to enhance the density and Li⁺ conductivity of Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂ further through the Li₄SiO₄ addition. A maximized room‐temperature (33°C) total (bulk + grain boundary) Li⁺ conductivity of 3.7 × 10^?4 S/cm and maximized relative density of 94% was observed for Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂ added with 1 wt% of Li₄SiO₄.