The weak aggregating algorithm and weak mixability

This paper resolves the problem of predicting as well as the best expert up to an additive term of the order o(n), where n is the length of a sequence of letters from a finite alphabet. We call the games that permit this weakly mixable and give a geometrical characterisation of the class of weakly mixable games. Weak mixability turns out to be equivalent to convexity of the finite part of the set of superpredictions. For bounded games we introduce the Weak Aggregating Algorithm that allows us to obtain additive terms of the form .     

New insights on survivability in multi-domain optical networks

With the development of intelligent optical networks and the general multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) technique, the seamless convergence between IP network and optical network is no longer be a dream but a practical reality. Similar to the Internet, current optical networks have been divided into multiple domains each of which has its own network provider and management policy. Therefore, the development of multi-domain optical networks will be the trend of new-generation intelligent optical networks, and GMPLS-based survivability for multi-domain optical networks will become a hot topic of research in the future. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the existing survivable schemes in multi-domain optical networks and analyzes the shortcomings of current research. Based on previous studies, we present possible challenges and propose new ideas to design efficient survivable schemes to guide the future work of researchers in multi-domain optical networks.     

Interference Shaders of Thin Films

This paper presents a systematic study of light interferences at single thin films. Based on Fresnel's law, we have derived generic expressions of reflectance and transmittance for film interference, as well as specific expressions for free thin films and films coated on transparent or opaque objects. By combining film interference and volume absorption, we have obtained the reflectances and transmittances of film‐coated thin objects such as ribbons. Illumination models for all interference cases of single thin films are presented, and they have been implemented and tested for various structures and materials.     

Density Displays for Data Stream Monitoring

In many business applications, large data workloads such as sales figures or process performance measures need to be monitored in real‐time. The data analysts want to catch problems in flight to reveal the root cause of anomalies. Immediate actions need to be taken before the problems become too expensive or consume too many resources. In the meantime, analysts need to have the “big picture” of what the information is about. In this paper, we derive and analyze two real‐time visualization techniques for managing density displays: (1) circular overlay d isplays which visualize large volumes of data without data shift movements after the display is full, thus freeing the analyst from adjusting the mental picture of the data after each data shift; and (2) variable resolution density displays which allow users to get the entire view without cluttering. We evaluate these techniques with respect to a number of evaluation measures, such as constancy of the display and usage of display space, and compare them to conventional d isplays with periodic shifts. Our real time data monitoring system also provides advanced interactions such as a local root cause analysis for further exploration. The applications using a number of real‐world data sets show the wide applicability and usefulness of our ideas.     

Measuring ranked list robustness for query performance prediction

We introduce the notion of ranking robustness, which refers to a property of a ranked list of documents that indicates how stable the ranking is in the presence of uncertainty in the ranked documents. We propose a statistical measure called the robustness score to quantify this notion. Our initial motivation for measuring ranking robustness is to predict topic difficulty for content-based queries in the ad-hoc retrieval task. Our results demonstrate that the robustness score is positively and consistently correlation with average precision of content-based queries across a variety of TREC test collections. Though our focus is on prediction under the ad-hoc retrieval task, we observe an interesting negative correlation with query performance when our technique is applied to named-page finding queries, which are a fundamentally different kind of queries. A side effect of this different behavior of the robustness score between the two types of queries is that the robustness score is also found to be a good feature for query classification.      

腹腔微创手术机器人末端执行机构的设计和实现

为了提高腹腔微创手术的安全性,设计了一种新型的腹腔微创手术机器人末端执行机构,用于夹持手术器械．根据腹腔微创手术的特点和技术要求,采用轴驱动和平行四杆的运动原理设计定点机构．详细介绍了末端执行机构的机械结构,应用D-H法和矢量代数法给出了各个关节的运动学解公式,研究了控制系统的硬件结构和软件系统,并进行了样机实验．实验表明所设计的末端执行机构具有很好的定点运动效果,能够较好地完成手术规划,满足腹腔微创手术要求．     

Genetic based sensorless hybrid intelligent controller for strip loop formation control between inter-stands in hot steel rolling mills

Safe operating environment is essential for all complex industrial processes. The safety issues in steel rolling mill when the hot strip passes through consecutive mill stands have been considered in this paper. Formation of sag in strip is a common problem in the rolling process. The excessive sag can lead to scrap runs and damage to machinery. Conventional controllers for mill actuation system are based on a rolling model. The factors like rise in temperature, aging, wear and tear are not taken into account while designing a conventional controller. Therefore, the conventional controller cannot yield a requisite controlled output. In this paper, a new Genetic-neuro-fuzzy hybrid controller without tension sensor has been proposed to optimize the quantum of excessive sag and reduce it. The performance of the proposed controller has been compared with the performance of fuzzy logic controller, Neuro-fuzzy controller and conventional controller with the help of data collected from the plant. The simulation results depict that the proposed controller has superior performance than the other controllers.     

Hyperprolactinemia in end‐stage renal disease and effects of frequent hemodialysis

Introduction: End‐stage renal disease is associated with elevations in circulating prolactin concentrations, but the association of prolactin concentrations with intermediate health outcomes and the effects of hemodialysis frequency on changes in serum prolactin have not been examined. Methods: The FHN Daily and Nocturnal Dialysis Trials compared the effects of conventional thrice weekly hemodialysis with in‐center daily hemodialysis (6 days/week) and nocturnal home hemodialysis (6 nights/week) over 12 months and obtained measures of health‐related quality of life, self‐reported physical function, mental health and cognition. Serum prolactin concentrations were measured at baseline and 12‐month follow‐up in 70% of the FHN Trial cohort to examine the associations among serum prolactin concentrations and physical, mental and cognitive function and the effects of hemodialysis frequency on serum prolactin. Findings: Among 177 Daily Trial and 60 Nocturnal Trial participants with baseline serum prolactin measurements, the median serum prolactin concentration was 65 ng/mL (25th–75th percentile 48–195 ng/mL) and 81% had serum prolactin concentrations >30 ng/mL. While serum prolactin was associated with sex (higher in women), we observed no association between baseline serum prolactin and age, dialysis vintage, and baseline measures of physical, mental and cognitive function. Furthermore, there was no significant effect of hemodialysis frequency on serum prolactin in either of the two trials. Discussion: Serum prolactin concentrations were elevated in the large majority of patients with ESRD, but were not associated with several measures of health status. Circulating prolactin levels also do not appear to decrease in response to more frequent hemodialysis over a one‐year period.     

A study on the effect of polishing fluid volume in ball end magnetorheological finishing process

Ball end magnetorheological finishing is a unique process that utilizes a magnetically controlled ball of polishing fluid at the tip of the rotating tool to finish workpiece of different materials and shapes. The aim of this research is to study the effect of polishing fluid volume on finishing spot size and the surface finish associated with it. A magnetostatic simulation is done to find the variation of flux density in the working gap and on the workpiece surface. The maximum limit of the polishing fluid volume is selected on the basis of area of threshold magnetic flux density (minimum value required for finishing) region on the workpiece surface. The surface characteristics and the diameter of the finished spot are analyzed by varying the fluid volume. The surface obtained with high fluid volume is poorly finished and has scratch marks as the excess fluid flows out from the working gap and forms a thick ring at the periphery of the tool tip. Contrary to this, if the fluid volume is too less, then it merely rotates over the workpiece surface without causing any finishing action. An optimum range of fluid volume produces a good quality surface finish with constant finished spot size.