Estimation of generalized entropies with sample spacing

In addition to the well-known Shannon entropy, generalized entropies, such as the Renyi and Tsallis entropies, are increasingly used in many applications. Entropies are computed by means of nonparametric kernel methods that are commonly used to estimate the density function of empirical data. Generalized entropy estimation techniques for one-dimensional data using sample spacings are proposed. By means of computational experiments, it is shown that these techniques are robust and accurate, compare favorably to the popular Parzen window method for estimating entropies, and, in many cases, require fewer computations than Parzen methods.     

Principle Components and Importance Ranking of Distributed Anomalies

Correlations between locally averaged host observations, at different times and places, hint at information about the associations between the hosts in a network. These smoothed, pseudo-continuous time-series imply relationships with entities in the wider environment. For anomaly detection, mining this information might provide a valuable source of observational experience for determining comparative anomalies or rejecting false anomalies. The difficulties with distributed analysis lie in collating the distributed data and in comparing observables on different hosts, in different frames of reference. In the present work, we examine two methods (Principle Component Analysis and Eigenvector Centrality) that shed light on the usefulness of comparing data destined for different locations in a network.     

Automated adaptive 3D forming simulation processes

In this study, an automated adaptive mesh control scheme, based on local mesh modifications, is developed for the finite element simulations of 3D metal-forming processes. Error indicators are used to control the mesh discretization errors, and an h-adaptive procedure is conducted. The mesh size field used in the h-adaptive procedure is processed to control the discretization and geometric approximation errors of the evolving workpiece mesh. Industrial problems are investigated to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed scheme.     

Accessing the spoken word

Spoken-word audio collections cover many domains, including radio and television broadcasts, oral narratives, governmental proceedings, lectures, and telephone conversations. The collection, access, and preservation of such data is stimulated by political, economic, cultural, and educational needs. This paper outlines the major issues in the field, reviews the current state of technology, examines the rapidly changing policy issues relating to privacy and copyright, and presents issues relating to the collection and preservation of spoken audio content .     

A method for coordinating the distributed transmission of imagery.

Distributed imaging using sensor arrays is gaining popularity among various research and development communities. A common bottleneck within such an imaging sensor network is the large resulting data load. In applications for which transmission power and/or bandwidth are constrained, this can drastically decrease the sensor network lifetime. We present an algorithm that efficiently exploits inter- and intrasensor correlation for the purpose of power-constrained distributed transmission of sensor-network imagery. Gains in network lifetime up to 114% are obtained when using the suggested algorithm with lossless compression. Our results also demonstrate that when lossy compression is employed, much larger gains are achieved. For example, when a normalized root-mean-squared error of 0.78% can be tolerated in the received measurements, the network lifetime increases by a factor of 2.8, as compared to the (optimized) lossless case.     

Comparative Study of Fatigue Provisions for the AASHTO Fatigue Guide Specifications and LRFR Manual for Evaluation

The recently developed Manual for condition evaluation and load and resistance factor rating (LRFR) of highway bridges in 2003 provides an alternative procedure for practicing engineers to evaluate the fatigue life of steel bridge structures. Although the evaluation manual maintains several aspects used in the AASHTO fatigue guide specification in 1990, it also utilizes formulas and values specified in the AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications in 1998. A comparative study of the fatigue lives provided by the procedures in the Evaluation manual and the Guide specifications was performed using a life prediction of 14 steel bridges with different structural configurations and various fatigue details. It has been shown that longer predicted fatigue lives are typically obtained when using the Evaluation manual. The ratio of the finite evaluation fatigue lives for the two procedures was found to be in a range of 0.99–2.14.     

Surface Analysis of Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Response to Different Nutrient and Sediment Loads

Based on a set of Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Model (CBEM) scenarios, a three-dimensional response surface of a water quality index, such as chlorophyll concentration, versus a pair of loading constituents, e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus, is constructed. The responses of water quality, such as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and water clarity, to nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads are analyzed. From the response surface, a water quality response is estimated under loading conditions beyond that of a limited set of scenarios. Response surfaces may be used to determine the possible universe of nutrient and sediment load reductions needed to obtain a particular water quality standard and to examine the tradeoffs among nutrient and sediment load reductions that achieve the same water quality objective.     

Statistical Modeling to Forecast Odor Levels of Biosolids Applied to Reuse Sites

Proper use or disposal of wastewater solids is an important responsibility of wastewater treatment plants. At present, there are several options for wastewater solids, including agriculture, forestry, and mine reclamation reuse; production of marketable products such as compost and dried pellets; and disposal in landfills and incinerators. Land application of biosolids products is beneficial as part of recycling efforts on local farms, forests, tree farms, and mines and has gained greater acceptance of late. Coupled with these beneficial aspects are odors, which must be managed relative to the receiving populations. In this paper we present several statistical models that predict biosolids odor levels based on processing and management variables as well as ambient conditions. Such models are useful to managers at advanced wastewater treatment plants in helping them to better forecast the biosolids odors and minimize the “odor footprint,” thus making these biosolids products better received.     

Reduced autobiographical memory specificity and rumination in predicting the course of depression.

Reduced autobiographical memory (AM) specificity is a known vulnerability factor for depression. AM specificity was investigated as a predictor of depression with the Autobiographical Memory Test (J. M. G. Williams & K. Broadbent, 1986). When baseline depression scores were partialed, reduced AM specificity to negative cue words predicted higher levels of depression at 7-month follow-up. Once rumination was taken into account by means of the Rumination on Sadness Scale (M. Conway, P. A. R. Csank, S. L. Holm, & C. K. Blake, 2000), AM specificity no longer predicted depression, suggesting that the predictive value of AM specificity observed in previous studies might be--at least partly--explained as an effect of rumination. Further mediation analyses indeed revealed support for rumination as a mediator of the relation between reduced AM specificity and poor outcome of depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A formal relationship between program slicing and partial evaluation

A formal relationship between program slicing and partial evaluation is established. It is proved that for terminating programs, a residual program produced by partial evaluation is semantically equivalent to a conditioned slice. Received May 2002 Revised Octber 2004 and July 2005 Accepted August 2005 by D. J. Cooke