Passive infrared thermographic imaging for mobile robot object identification

The usefulness of thermal infrared imaging as a mobile robot sensing modality is explored, and a set of thermal–physical features used to characterize passive thermal objects in outdoor environments is described. Objects that extend laterally beyond the thermal camera's field of view, such as brick walls, hedges, picket fences, and wood walls, as well as compact objects that are laterally within the thermal camera's field of view, such as metal poles and tree trunks, are considered. Classification of passive thermal objects is a subtle process because they are not a source for their own emission of thermal energy. A detailed analysis is included of the acquisition and preprocessing of thermal images, as well as the generation and selection of thermal–physical features from these objects within thermal images. Classification performance using these features is discussed, as a precursor to the design of a physics‐based model to automatically classify these objects. Published 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. *

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

     

LINEAR PROGRAMMING AND RECURRENT ASSOCIATIVE MEMORIES

Many optimization procedures presume the availability of an initial approximation in the neighborhood of a local or global optimum. Unfortunately, finding a set of good starting conditions is itself a nontrivial proposition. We describe a procedure for identifying approximate solutions to constrained optimization problems. Recurrent neural network structures are interpreted in the context of linear associative memory matrices. A recurrent associative memory (RAM) is trained to map the inputs of closely related transportation linear programs to optimal solution vectors. The procedure performs well when training cases are selected according to a simple rule, identifying good heuristic solutions for representative test cases. Modest infeasibilities exist in some of these estimated solutions, but the basic variables associated with true optimums are usually apparent. In the great majority of cases, rounding identifies the true optimum.     

High-order subharmonically pumped mixers using phased local oscillators

A high-order subharmonically pumped mixer architecture that utilizes multiple pairs of antiparallel diodes is described. A key component of the mixer architecture is a K-way power-divider/phase shifter that divides the local oscillator (LO) to multiple ports with equal magnitude and prescribed phase shifts. Undesired mixing products are eliminated through phase cancellation by symmetry rather than relying on intermediate idler circuits. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, an eighth-order mixer is implemented based on this approach and has shown a measured conversion loss of 8 dB at 8 GHz. The mixer architecture is suitable for applications in the millimeter and submillimeter-wave regions where high-frequency LOs are difficult to implement.     

浅谈水轮发电机筒式轴承间隙对机组安全稳定运行的影响

本文主要叙述发电机筒式导轴承问隙对机组安全运行的影响。通过对丰满4号发电机组导轴承问隙、受力情况进行详细计算与分析，合理地调整了导轴承的问隙，从根本上消除了发电机导轴承存在的不安全隐患，确保了机组长期安全稳定运行。     

Safeguarding the electric workplace

It is difficult to imagine life without the conveniences of electricity. However, the electrification of all aspects of society has had the negative attribute of exposing people to potential injury and property loss from electrical hazards. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art in electrical safety technology, work practices, and management systems. This article also outlines significant changes and developments impacting further improvement in the prevention of electrical incidents and their consequences.     

The role of the sympathoadrenal and opioid systems in the pathogenesis of "silent" myocardial ischemia in ischemic heart disease

In a study of 114 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) a relatedness has been found out of frequency and duration of "silent" ischemia of the myocardium to the degree of severity of atherosclerotic affection of the vascular bed and aggravation of IHD clinical symptomatology, with the activity of the opioid system tending to decline, catecholamines concentration being on the increase. It is beta-endorphin and leucine-enkephalin that have an important part to play in the regulation of algesthesia in IHD patients, the plasma content of which substances gets appreciably higher in exercise-induced painless ischemia. A change in the opioid-adrenosympathetic equilibrium is considered to be related to features of IHD clinical course. It is suggested that maintenance of the above two systems dynamic equilibrium might be of adaptive, antistressor character.     

Implementing Daubechies wavelet transform with weighted finite automata

We show that the compactly supported wavelet functions discovered by Daubechies [6] can be computed by weighted finite automata (WFA) introduced by Culik and Karhum?ki [2]. Furthermore, for 1-D case, a fixed WFA with states can implement any linear combination of dilations and translations of a basic wavelet at resolution . The coefficients of the wavelet transform specify the initial weights in the corresponding states of the WFA. An algorithm to simplify this WFA is presented and can be employed to compress data. It works especially well for smooth and fractal-like data. Received: 15 February 1995 / 11 April 1996     

A virtual classroom approach to teaching circuit analysis

We have implemented several innovative uses of computers and computer networks to develop a new pedagogy for the delivery of university engineering courses. These uses of computers and networks are creating efficiencies in the learning process, and students have found this interactive learning environment to be a significant improvement upon a traditional engineering course. Student performance and retention, as well as faculty productivity, are increased in this innovative teaching and learning environment     

Relational spirituality and the development of the Similarity of the Offender’s Spirituality Scale.

We present a model of relational spirituality and forgiveness that considers how a victim’s spirituality affects his or her experience of and response to a transgression. In 2 studies, we investigate the psychometric properties of the Similarity of the Offender’s Spirituality Scale (SOS), which assesses the extent to which the victim sees the offender as spiritually similar. Results suggest the SOS has 2 factors that assess the offender’s spiritual and human similarity. The SOS showed initial evidence of construct validity, being related to other measures of spirituality and to measures of the victim’s response to a transgression. The overall model was found to offer incremental validity beyond known predictors of forgiveness. We suggest directions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enzyme-Catalyzed Inorganic Precipitation of Aluminum Basic Sulfate

Particles of aluminum basic sulfate were synthesized from homogeneous solutions of aluminum acetate, sodium sulfate, urea, and the enzyme urease at room temperature. The urease was used to decompose the urea. The decomposition provided a controlled increase in the pH of the solution, from 5 to 9.