Near-Term Travel Speed Prediction Utilizing Hilbert–Huang Transform

Abstract:  Accurate short-term prediction of travel speed as a proxy for time is central to many Intelligent Transportation Systems, especially for Advanced Traveler Information Systems and Advanced Traffic Management Systems. In this study, we propose an innovative methodology for such prediction. Because of the inherently direct derivation of travel time from speed data, the study was limited to the use of speed only as a single predictor. The proposed method is a hybrid one that combines the use of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and a multilayer feedforward neural network with backpropagation. The EMD is the key part of the Hilbert–Huang transform, which is a newly developed method at NASA for the analysis of nonstationary, nonlinear time series. The rationale for using the EMD is that because of the highly nonlinear and nonstationary nature of link speed series, by decomposing the time series into its basic components, more accurate forecasts would be obtained. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method by applying it to real-life loop detector data obtained from I-66 in Fairfax, Virginia. The prediction performance of the proposed method was found to be superior to previous forecasting techniques. Rigorous testing of the distribution of prediction errors revealed that the model produced unbiased predictions of speeds. The superiority of the proposed model was also verified during peak periods, midday, and night. In general, the method was accurate, computationally efficient, easy to implement in a field environment, and applicable to forecasting other traffic parameters.     

Dynamic scheduling for complex engineer-to-order products

The current paper considers dynamic production scheduling for manufacturing systems producing products with deep and complex product structures and complicated process routings. It is assumed that manufacturing and assembly processing times are deterministic. Dynamic scheduling problems may be either incremental (where the schedule for incoming orders does not affect the schedule for existing orders) or regenerative (where a new schedule is produced for both new and existing orders). In both situations, a common objective is to minimize total costs (the sum of work-in-progress holding costs, product earliness and tardiness costs). In this research, heuristic and evolutionary-strategy-based methods have been developed to solve incremental and regenerative scheduling problems. Case studies using industrial data from a company that produces complex products in low volume demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods. Evolution strategy (ES) provides better results than the heuristic method, but this is at the expense of significantly longer computation times. It was found that performing regenerative planning is better than incremental planning when there is high interaction between the new orders and the existing orders.     

Microwave sintering of Si3N4 with LiYO2 and ZrO2 as sintering additives

Phase transformation, microstructure development and mechanical properties of 2.45 GHz microwave-sintered silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) with lithium yttrium oxide (LiYO₂) and zirconia (ZrO₂) sintering additives were investigated. It was found that α to β phase transformation completed at a lower temperature of 1500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed a bimodal microstructure with a large number of elongated β-Si₃N₄ grains in addition to smaller grains. Surface residual porosity was observed in all sintered samples due to selective localized over heating of grain-boundary glassy phase. The high aspect-ratio of β-Si₃N₄ grains exhibited significant crack deflection, debonding and pull-out. It was observed that Vickers hardness and indentation fracture toughness increased with increasing sintering temperature.     

Psychometric properties of the Hawaiian Culture Scale—Adolescent Version.

This article reports on the psychometric properties of a newly constructed Hawaiian Culture Scale—Adolescent Version. A total of 2,272 Native Hawaiian and 1,170 non-Hawaiian adolescents were administered this 50-item inventory that measures the source of learning the Hawaiian way of life, how much Hawaiian beliefs are valued and important to maintain, how much non-Hawaiian beliefs are valued, Hawaiian blood quantum, and specific cultural traditions (seven subscales?=?Lifestyles, Customs, Activities, Folklore, Causes—Locations, Causes—Access, and Language Proficiency). The results strongly supported the internal consistency and validity of the measures for both the Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian groups. On the basis of the demographic data, partial support was offered for cross-cultural theories of ethnic identity. More consistent support was found for multiculturalism in Hawai'i's adolescents. Further research is needed to link these measures with indicators of psychological adjustment (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors affecting the electrical resistivity of soybean oil methyl ester

Factors affecting the electrical resistivity of soybean oil methyl ester (which is important in some industrial applications) were investigated by the addition of polar constituents [free fatty acids (FFA), water, phospholipids, monoglyceride, sterol, tocopherol, peroxides, and β-carotene] to aluminapurified soybean oil methyl ester (APSBOMe). Investigation of measuring conditions showed that reproducible results were obtained when the potential was greater than 25 V, and the charging time was greater than 10 s. The resistivity of APSBOMe increased logarithmically as temperature decreased linearly. FFA had little effect on resistivity. Saturation with water lowered the resistivity of APSBOMe much more than that of alumina-purified soybean oil (APSBO). Phospholipids reduced the resistivity significantly when added to dry ester, but the addition of water affected the resistivity of the samples containing phospholipids only slightly. Monoglyceride, sterol, tocopherol, and hydroperoxide affected the resistivity of dry methyl ester similarly, but only monoglyceride showed a significant synergistic effect with water. Diacylperoxide and β-carotene had little effect on the resistivity of the ester.     

Production and characterization of a swiss cheese-like product from modified vegetable oils

Seven types of Swiss cheese-like products were made by recombining skim milk with various fat sources: higholeic sunflower oil (HOSO), milk fat, randomized milk fat, HOSO with commerical short-chain fatty acids (C₄−C₁₀) (SCFA) interesterified at 100 and 120% of the levels in the milk fat, HOSO with interesterified milk fat SCFA, and HOSO with dissolved free SCFA. Sensory, chemical, and physical analyses were conducted to evaluate the flavor and texture of the cheeses. All cheeses made from HOSO with interesterified SCFA were not significantly different from milk fat controls in typical Swiss flavor and volatile flavor. HOSO with interesterified SCFA scored significantly higher in these flavors than unmodified HOSO. Swiss flavor was positively correlated with sweetness (0.805), volatile flavor (0.737), caramelized flavor (0.703), non-fat solids (0.663), and SCFA (0.639), and negatively correlated with fat (−0.645) and salt (−0.482) content. A linear regression model was established for typical Swiss flavor that included fat, salt, titratable acidity, and medium- and long-chain fatty acids as variables (R ²=0.91). Instrumental texture profile analysis indicated no differences among the treatments in texture atributes except cohesiveness. The production of a good-flavored Swiss cheeselike product from HOSO with interesterified SCFA appears to be commercially feasible.     

New process concepts for CO2 post-combustion capture process integrated with co-production of hydrogen

This work describes a study in advanced post-combustion based on CO₂-capture technologies to be integrated within the Hypogyny concept (electricity generation with co-hydrogen production). Two different Hypogen concepts based on integrating IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) and post-combusting CO₂ capture are proposed and investigated: the first concept, hydrogen production based on syngas shifting with high-pressure CO₂ capture, while the second concept, hydrogen is produced based on membrane separation from syngas.In the first concept, combining a high-pressure and an ambient-pressure CO₂ absorber in one flow sheet and one regeneration column is found to be feasible. However, the advantage of the high CO₂ partial pressure in the high-pressure absorber is more obvious if an advanced solvent like 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) is used instead of monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent kind.The second concept of using polymeric membrane for hydrogen production is considered feasible and comparing to the first concept, cost competitive with around 10% higher overall capital cost. However, the membrane unit does not achieve high hydrogen purity because the investigated concept is limited to a maximum purity of around 95%. Therefore, hydrogen selective membrane technically requires an extra hydrogen purification step e.g. further membrane separations or a pressure swing adsorption (PSA).In addition to these two concepts, the influence of flue gas circulation, gasifier selection and an advanced solvent based on the sterically hindered amine AMP was investigated. Flue gas circulation (higher CO₂-concentrations) has no influence on the regeneration energy requirements when a high binding-energy solvent like MEA is used. The main benefit is that flue gas circulation results with more compact absorption equipment. For AMP type of solvents flue gas circulation results in a substantial reduction in regeneration energy and the overall cost of CO₂ avoided. 37% reduction in the avoided cost with a flue gas recycle ratio of 45% is achieved using AMP as a solvent comparing to 10% using MEA solvent.These Hypogen strategies appear to be feasible and the overall cost of these concepts is comparable with the conventional post-combustion capture process. However, there is a significant potential for further improvement by applying more developed solvents, processes, and membranes.