Grid implementation of the Apriori algorithm

The paper presents the implementation of an association rules discovery data mining task using Grid technologies. For the mining task we are using the Apriori algorithm on top of the Globus toolkit. The case study presents the design and integration of the data mining algorithm with the Globus services. The paper compares the Grid version with related work in the field and we outline the conclusions and future work.     

Further improvement in high crystalline quality of homoepitaxial CVD diamond

High-quality homoepitaxial diamond (001) films with macroscopically flat surfaces have been successfully grown using a high-power microwave-plasma chemical-vapor-deposition (MWPCVD) method. In this study, further optimization of the homoepitaxial growth condition has been accomplished mainly by controlling off-angles to 5° along the <110> or <100> direction of high-pressure/high-temperature-synthesized Ib diamond (001) substrates. We have found that the homoepitaxial films deposited at reasonably high growth rates under the optimized growth condition including the off-angle of 3°–4° along the <110> direction have macroscopically flat surfaces, accompany very low or almost negligible densities of growth hillocks and yield strong free-exciton emissions in both steady-state cathodoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra measured at room temperature. These indicate that apparent lateral growths suitable for high-quality homoepitaxial layers in the case of the high-power MWPCVD method, which are similar to those previously reported in the case of MWPCVD processes with low methane concentrations, rather quickly occur from step edges on (001) terraces and that they can be achieved more preferentially on the vicinal substrates at high temperatures and high methane concentrations.     

System gains configuration and coordination of redundant degrees of freedom by genetic algorithms for multi-axis machine system in manufacturing

In multi-axis machine tool systems, the configuration of system gains and the coordination of redundant degrees of freedom are often a problem of insurmountable difficulty. This study explores the use of a nontraditional scheme, the genetic algorithm, in the configuration of system gains and exploitation of redundant degrees of freedom. The off-line gains configuration functioned as a kind of system design which may serve as a starting point for on-line adaptation. The allocation of redundant DOF was done on-line. The success in this work inspired the idea of future on-line GA application and the possibility of integration of GA with other non-traditional algorithms for manufacturing.     

Synthesis and polymerization studies of 3-(+) and (−)-menthyl carboxylate pyrroles

The synthesis of 3-(−)- and 3-(+)-menthyl carboxylate pyrrole was achieved in four high yielding steps, including the triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) protection of the pyrrole nitrogen, bromination of the 3-position, lithium halogen exchange followed by reaction with menthyl chloroformate, and finally de-protection. Chemical polymerization of both the TIPS protected, and non-protected, menthyl carboxylate pyrroles was performed and the resulting polymers exhibited conductivity ranging from 0.6 to 2.3 S/cm. Polymerization of the 3-menthyl-N-TIPS pyrrole on the surface of wool was achieved by using solution and mist polymerization methods.     

A new method of strength calculation and lifetime prediction of pipe bends operating in the creep range

An easy to use method for an approximate creep life prediction for pipe bends was developed within a recent R & D-project in Germany. The new algorithm is based on a Finite-Element parameter study comprising approximately 200 pipe bends. The creep behaviour of the materials primarily used for main steam and hot reheat piping is described using the Graham–Walles creep law. Since the new algorithm considers the time dependent out-of-roundness and stress redistribution of the pipe bend, it yields a more precise creep life prediction, compared to standard piping codes. It is possible to integrate this new calculation into existing online lifetime-monitoring-systems.     

Admission and GoS control in a multiservice WCDMA system

We consider in this paper a WCDMA system with two types of calls: real time (RT) calls that have dedicated resources, and data non-real time (NRT) calls that are treated using a time-shared channel (such as the HDR or the HSDPA). We consider reservation of some resources for the NRT traffic and assume that this traffic is further assigned the resources left over from the RT traffic. The grade of service (GoS) of RT traffic is also controlled in order to allow for handling more RT calls during congestion periods, at the cost of degraded transmission rates. We consider both the downlink (with and without macrodiversity) as well as the uplink and study the blocking probabilities of RT traffic as well as the expected sojourn time of NRT traffic. We further study the conditional expected sojourn time of a data connection given its size and the state of the system. Finally, we extend our framework to handle handover calls.     

Thermoelastic evaluation of composite laminates using digital imaging processing

The study of the variation of the curvature of non-symmetric composite laminates with temperature provides a measure of the magnitude of the thermal stresses and the mechanical behavior of the material with temperature. In the present work, an experimental method based on the pioneer use of a digital camera and image processing method is proposed to perform such measurements. Taking advantage of the method and by comparing experimental and CLT, extended-CLT and FEM simulation results, an evaluation of the residual stresses is described and an approach providing more precise determination of the residual thermal stresses in non-symmetric laminates is proposed.     

A new approach for constructing the concept map

In recent years, e-learning system has become more and more popular and many adaptive learning environments have been proposed to offer learners customized courses in accordance with their aptitudes and learning results. For achieving the adaptive learning, a predefined concept map of a course is often used to provide adaptive learning guidance for learners. However, it is difficult and time consuming to create the concept map of a course. Thus, how to automatically create a concept map of a course becomes an interesting issue. In this paper, we propose a Two-Phase Concept Map Construction (TP-CMC) approach to automatically construct the concept map by learners’ historical testing records. Phase 1 is used to preprocess the testing records; i.e., transform the numeric grade data, refine the testing records, and mine the association rules from input data. Phase 2 is used to transform the mined association rules into prerequisite relationships among learning concepts for creating the concept map. Therefore, in Phase 1, we apply Fuzzy Set Theory to transform the numeric testing records of learners into symbolic data, apply Education Theory to further refine it, and apply Data Mining approach to find its grade fuzzy association rules. Then, in Phase 2, based upon our observation in real learning situation, we use multiple rule types to further analyze the mined rules and then propose a heuristic algorithm to automatically construct the concept map. Finally, the Redundancy and Circularity of the concept map constructed are also discussed. Moreover, we also develop a prototype system of TP-CMC and then use the real testing records of students in junior high school to evaluate the results. The experimental results show that our proposed approach is workable.