A NON-PARAMETRIC APPROACH TO SIMPLICITY CLUSTERING

The simplicity principle—an updating of Ockham's razor to take into account modern information theory—states that the preferred theory for a set of data is the one that allows for the most efficient encoding of the data. We consider this in the context of classification, or clustering, as a data reduction technique that helps describe a set of objects by dividing the objects into groups. The simplicity model we present favors clusters such that the similarity of the items in the clusters is maximal, while the similarity of items between clusters is minimal. Several novel features of our clustering criterion make it especially appropriate for clustering of data derived from, psychological procedures (e.g., similarity ratings): It is non-parametric, and may be applied in situations where the metric axioms are violated without requiring (information-forgetting) transformation procedures. We illustrate the use of the criterion with a selection of data sets. A distinctive aspect of this research is that it motivates a clustering algorithm from psychological principles.     

Robust l1 estimation using the Popov-Tsypkin multiplier with application to robust fault detection

This paper considers the design of robust l₁ estimators based on multiplier theory (which is intimately related to mixed structured singular value theory) and the application of robust l₁ estimators to robust fault detection. The key to estimator-based, robust fault detection is to generate residuals which are robust against plant uncertainties and external disturbance inputs, which in turn requires the design of robust estimators. Specifically, the Popov-Tsypkin multiplier is used to develop an upper bound on an l₁ cost function over an uncertainty set. The robust l₁ estimation problem is formulated as a parameter optimization problem in which the upper bound is minimized subject to a Riccati equation constraint. A continuation algorithm that uses quasi-Newton BFGS (the algorithm of Broyden, Fletcher, Goldfab and Shanno) corrections is developed to solve the minimization problem. The estimation algorithm has two stages. The first stage solves a mixed-norm H₂/l₁ estimation problem. In particular, it is initialized with a steady-state Kalman filter and, by varying a design parameter from 0 to 1, the Kalman filter is deformed to an l₁ estimator. In the second stage the l₁ estimator is made robust. The robust l₁ estimation framework is then applied to the robust fault detection of dynamic systems. The results are applied to a simplified longitudinal flight control system. It is shown that the robust fault detection procedure based on the robust l₁ estimation methodology proposed in this paper can reduce false alarm rates.     

Precipitation Coating of Rare-Earth Orthophosphates on Woven Ceramic Fibers—Effect of Rare-Earth Cation on Coating Morphology and Coated Fiber Strength

Monazite (La, Ce, Nd, and GdPO₄) and xenotime (Tb, Dy, and YPO₄) coatings were deposited on woven Nextel^™ 610 and 720 fibers by heterogeneous precipitation from a rare-earth citrate/phosphoric acid precursor. Coating phases and microstructure were characterized by SEM and TEM, and coated fiber strength was measured after heat treatment at 1200°C for 2 h. Coated fiber strength increased with decreasing ionic radius of the rare-earth cation in the monazite and xenotime coatings, and correlates with the high-temperature weight loss and the densification rate of the coatings. Dense coatings with trapped porosity and high weight loss at a high temperature degrade fiber strength the most. The degradation is consistent with stress corrosion driven by thermal residual stress from coating precursor decomposition products trapped in the coating at a high temperature.     

The Effects of Mobile Phone on the Socio-economic Life of the Rural Dwellers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

This article aims to provide information on the effects of the mobile phone on the socio-economic life of the rural dwellers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study adopted a semi-structured interview method. The study covered nine villages selected from Delta and Bayelsa States in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Convenience sampling technique was used to select 129 respondents who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The interview was tape recorded and the information collected from the tape recordings were transcribed and coded. Similar viewpoints toward the same question were put together for the analysis. The study revealed that the mobile phone has brought immerse socio-economic impact on the rural dwellers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study revealed that mobile phone use enable the rural dwellers to communicate with family members and friends in urban areas; relatives in urban areas send recharge cards for them to sell for money instead of traveling to meet them, and Call Center Operators become self-employed and through that make a living. Finally, the frequent recharging of mobile phones leads to indebtedness. The participants mentioned challenges such as network failure, non-availability of recharge cards, unreliable or complete absence of power supply to charge batteries, high charges by Network Service Providers, stealing of mobile phones, and unskilled persons repairing phones in rural areas. The introduction of mobile phones has lead to reduction of rural–urban migration by many jobless youths.     

Browning development in bakery products – A review

This paper presents a review regarding several aspects of the development of browning during baking of bakery products, mainly from an engineering point of view. During baking, the formation of colour is due to the Maillard reaction, and caramelization of sugars. Besides the major influence of this phenomenon on the initial acceptance of products by consumers, it is the responsible for other relevant changes occurring in food during baking, i.e. production of flavour and aroma compounds, formation of toxic products (e.g. acrylamide), and decrease of nutritional value of proteins. As well as baking, the development of browning in bakery products is a simultaneous heat and mass transfer process that occurs mostly in a non-ideal system under non-ideal conditions. In addition, the mechanisms of chemical reactions involved are still not elucidated completely, so the process is difficult to control and represents a major challenge for food engineers. Effects of browning on properties of products and experimental, modelling and technological aspects of colour formation during baking are reviewed.     

Analytical representation of a surface defined only at a discrete set of points

Interpolation of a curved triangular surface element by a complete cubic polynomial that minimizes C¹discontinuity is described.     

Modelling concentration gradients in fed-batch cultivations of E. coli – towards the flexible design of scale-down experiments

The cover image is based on the Research Article Modelling concentration gradients in fed-batch cultivations of E. coli - towards the flexible design of scale-down experiments by Emmanuel Anane et al., DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5798 .

     

Delay and state observation for SISO nonlinear systems with input delay

This paper deals with the problem of state and delay estimation for SISO nonlinear systems with an unknown time‐varying delay in the input. The main idea is to approximate the delayed input by using Taylor's theorem and to create an extended system with the delay as part of the extended state. Then, the construction of an observer is proposed to estimate both state and delay. The results are illustrated by simulations.     

Time dependent behavior of elements combining ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes (UHPFRC) and reinforced concrete

Structural elements combining Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concretes (UHPFRC) and concrete offer a high potential in view of rehabilitation and modification of existing structures. The investigation of the time-dependent behavior of composite “UHPFRC-concrete” elements is a fundamental step in the determination of durability and serviceability. For this, an experimental program was conducted on large composite “UHPFRC-concrete” beams and a numerical model was validated with the test results. The experimental results and a parametric study performed with the numerical model showed that UHPFRC and normal strength reinforced concrete are compatible in the long-term and that the critical period of composite “UHPFRC-concrete” elements are the first 90 days after the casting of the UHPFRC layer. Thus, the high potential of such composite elements can be exploited also in the long term.