An improved factor based approach to precedential constraint

In this article I argue for rule-based, non-monotonic theories of common law judicial reasoning and improve upon one such theory offered by Horty and Bench-Capon. The improvements reveal some of the interconnections between formal theories of judicial reasoning and traditional issues within jurisprudence regarding the notions of the ratio decidendi and obiter dicta. Though I do not purport to resolve the long-standing jurisprudential issues here, it is beneficial for theorists both of legal philosophy and formalizing legal reasoning to see where the two projects interact.     

A linear algebra approach to OLAP

Inspired by the relational algebra of data processing, this paper addresses the foundations of data analytical processing from a linear algebra perspective. The paper investigates, in particular, how aggregation operations such as cross tabulations and data cubes essential to quantitative analysis of data can be expressed solely in terms of matrix multiplication, transposition and the Khatri–Rao variant of the Kronecker product. The approach offers a basis for deriving an algebraic theory of data consolidation, handling the quantitative as well as qualitative sides of data science in a natural, elegant and typed way. It also shows potential for parallel analytical processing, as the parallelization theory of such matrix operations is well acknowledged.     

Abstraction and approximation in fuzzy temporal logics and models

Recently, by defining suitable fuzzy temporal logics, temporal properties of dynamic systems are specified during model checking process, yet a few numbers of fuzzy temporal logics along with capable corresponding models are developed and used in system design phase, moreover in case of having a suitable model, it suffers from the lack of a capable model checking approach. Having to deal with uncertainty in model checking paradigm, this paper introduces a fuzzy Kripke model (FzKripke) and then provides a verification approach using a novel logic called Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic* (FzCTL*). Not only state space explosion is handled using well-known concepts like abstraction and bisimulation, but an approximation method is also devised as a novel technique to deal with this problem. Fuzzy program graph, a generalization of program graph and FzKripke, is also introduced in this paper in consideration of higher level abstraction in model construction. Eventually modeling, and verification of a multi-valued flip-flop is studied in order to demonstrate capabilities of the proposed models.     

Model checking dynamic pushdown networks

A dynamic pushdown network (DPN) is a set of pushdown systems (PDSs) where each process can dynamically create new instances of PDSs. DPNs are a natural model of multi-threaded programs with (possibly recursive) procedure calls and thread creation. Thus, it is important to have model checking algorithms for DPNs. We consider in this work model checking DPNs against single-indexed LTL and CTL properties of the form \({\bigwedge f_i}\) such that f _i is a LTL/CTL formula over the PDS i. We consider the model checking problems w.r.t. simple valuations (i.e., whether a configuration satisfies an atomic proposition depends only on its control location) and w.r.t. regular valuations (i.e., the set of the configurations satisfying an atomic proposition is a regular set of configurations). We show that these model checking problems are decidable. We propose automata-based approaches for computing the set of configurations of a DPN that satisfy the corresponding single-indexed LTL/CTL formula.     

A scalable hybrid decision system (HDS) for Roman word recognition using ANN SVM: study case on Malay word recognition

An off-line handwriting recognition (OFHR) system is a computerized system that is capable of intelligently converting human handwritten data extracted from scanned paper documents into an equivalent text format. This paper studies a proposed OFHR for Malaysian bank cheques written in the Malay language. The proposed system comprised of three components, namely a character recognition system (CRS), a hybrid decision system and lexical word classification system. Two types of feature extraction techniques have been used in the system, namely statistical and geometrical. Experiments show that the statistical feature is reliable, accessible and offers results that are more accurate. The CRS in this system was implemented using two individual classifiers, namely an adaptive multilayer feed-forward back-propagation neural network and support vector machine. The results of this study are very promising and could generalize to the entire Malay lexical dictionary in future work toward scaled-up applications.     

Design and implementation of novel thin film position-sensitive detectors (TFPSDs) based on photoconductive effect

In this paper, novel, very simple and low-cost thin film position sensitive detectors (TFPSDs) which employ indium tin oxide (ITO)-cadmium sulfide (CdS)-Au structures are presented. Different from the existed PSDs those based on lateral photovoltage effect, the proposed sensor is operated in principle of photoconductive effect. CdS film is chosen as the photosensitive layer since its excellent photoconductive property, low cost and suitable for depositing on different type substrates with large areas. In the present study, CdS films are deposited on silicon substrates by using rf magnetron sputtering at room temperature. After that, the prepared CdS films were annealed at different temperatures for 50 min in N₂ ambient and a rigorous analysis was presented on the surface topography, and photoconductive properties by scanning electron microscopy and semiconductor characteristics analyzer. The test results shows that the film annealed at 400 °C has the best photoconductive property. Moreover, the finite-element method was used to study the relationship between the Aluminium (Al) electrode shape and the linearity of PSD. Three different type PSDs (quadrilateral, rectangular-shaped and pillow-shaped) were designed and simulated. The simulation results indicate that the quadrilateral electrode is suitable for large-area PSDs, whereas the rectangular-shaped and pillow-shaped electrodes can be used to realize small-area PSDs. The measurement results shows that the non-linearities of three type PSDs with dimensions of 10 × 10 mm are respectively 2.106, 3.594, and 3.55 %, which verify the conclusion deduced from the simulation results.     

A low-power,micromachined, double spiral hotplate for MEMS gas sensors

This paper presents the design, fabrication and reliability testing of a double spiral platinum-based MEMS hotplate for gas sensing applications. The structure of MEMS hotplate consists of a 0.7 µm-thick thermally grown SiO₂ membrane of size 120 µm × 120 µm over which a double spiral platinum resistor is laid out. The hotplate membrane is supported by its four arms connected to the Si-substrate. The design and simulation of the hotplate structure was carried out using MEMS-CAD Tool COVENTORWARE. Based on the design, a double spiral platinum resistor of 103 Ω is fabricated on SiO₂ membrane using lift-off technique. The platinum deposition is carried out using DC sputtering technique. Bulk micromachining of Si is done from front side of the structure to create the suspended SiO₂ membrane. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of platinum is measured and found to be 2.19 × 10^?3/ °C. The TCR value is used for temperature estimation of the hotplate. The test results show that the microhotplate consumes only 20 mW power when heated up to 500 °C. For reliability testing of fabricated structure, the hotplate is continuously operated at 300 °C for 1.8 h. Also, it can sustain at least 61 cycles pulse-mode operation at 530 °C with ultra-low resistance and temperature drifts. The structure can sustain a maximum temperature and current of 611 °C and 11.55 mA respectively without any damage.     

Can a curved beam bistable mechanism have a secondary equilibrium that is more stable than its stress-free configuration?

A new concept for the geometry of a curved beam bistable micromechanical mechanism is proposed aiming at producing a secondary equilibrium state that is more stable (in terms of transformation force) than the primary, stress-free, configuration. The proposed geometry is simple and compatible with common MEMS mass-production processes. A parametric study is performed by means of a non-linear finite-elements analysis in order to study the post-buckling behavior and performance of the mechanism. Based on this analysis, we show that it is theoretically possible to have a mechanism that exhibits a secondary equilibrium state that is more stable than the stress-free configuration. We also find that the post-buckling response of the proposed design is very sensitive to a particular geometrical feature. Besides this particular weakness, the mechanism is rather robust with respect to geometrical inaccuracies. We report our findings with the hope of inspiring others to propose new ideas for overcoming this geometrical sensitivity.     

无线多用户投影网关切换技术设计与实现

针对目前无线投影网关多用户切换技术研究的缺失及必要性,为了减少切换带来的延迟、抖动,提出了多用户的切换协议。通过实现基于Wi-Fi Direct的无线投影网关系统,模拟多用户使用场景,给出了详细的切换流程、数据结构,同时分析了延迟产生的原因,提出了数据预缓冲技术,进一步对多用户切换进行改进,最后通过实验测试证明其在减少切换延时的有效性。     

托管C++在SQL Server 2008 R2平台下的销售管理系统开发

针对沿海批发商品到全国各省会进行小量批发和零售的商户而言,统计货物每月每年销售情况、利润利率以指导进货的种类、数量和进货月份非常重要。设计一款基于SQL Server 2008R2数据库和VS2010平台下的托管C++编码的枕套经营管理软件。在满足以上需求的情况下,替代现有的记账方式,通过简单的操作选取参数结合软件内部提供的SQL查询语句或者向数据库请求执行的存储过程以提供丰富的查询功能,并把结果导出到Excel表格进行更直观的观察,该软件经过一年半的调试和使用之后显示出了对进货商和批发商双方良好的进货、销售指导作用。