Invariant object recognition and pose estimation with slow feature analysis

Primates are very good at recognizing objects independent of viewing angle or retinal position, and they outperform existing computer vision systems by far. But invariant object recognition is only one prerequisite for successful interaction with the environment. An animal also needs to assess an object's position and relative rotational angle. We propose here a model that is able to extract object identity, position, and rotation angles. We demonstrate the model behavior on complex three-dimensional objects under translation and rotation in depth on a homogeneous background. A similar model has previously been shown to extract hippocampal spatial codes from quasi-natural videos. The framework for mathematical analysis of this earlier application carries over to the scenario of invariant object recognition. Thus, the simulation results can be explained analytically even for the complex high-dimensional data we employed.     

ON STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF INDUCTION MOTOR SPEED DRIVES WITH SLIDING MODE CURRENT CONTROL

A novel inner loop sliding mode current control scheme for induction motor speed drives is proposed in this paper. The controller design is based on the nonlinear mathematical model of an induction motor in a coordinate system oriented along the rotor flux. The parameters of the PI speed controller are taken into consideration in the inner loop sliding mode current control. Rigorous stability verification for the overall system is provided in this paper. The chattering in sliding mode control is attenuated using the reaching law design method. The experimental results show that the proposed approach exhibits robust tracking performance in the presence of motor parameter variations and load disturbances.     

Scheduling and lot sizing with sequence-dependent setup: A literature review

This paper reviews the literature related to the class of scheduling problems that involve sequence-dependent setup times (costs), an important consideration in many practical applications. It focuses on papers published within the last decade, addressing a variety of machine configurations including single machine, parallel machine, flow shop, and job shop systems and reviews the optimization and heuristic solution methods used for each category. Since lot sizing is so intimately related to scheduling, this paper reviews work that integrates these issues in relationship to each configuration. This paper provides a perspective of this line of research, gives conclusions, and discusses fertile research opportunities posed by this class of scheduling problems.     

Record-keeping practices of clinical and counseling psychologists: A survey of practitioners.

Record keeping by psychologists was examined with survey data. Results indicate substantial variability in policies and practices. Implications of the results are discussed, and it is recommended that more specific guidelines for practitioners be developed in order to reduce the variability in record keeping. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expectancy factors in the treatment of fear: Methodological and theoretical issues.

Critically reviews the literature assessing the importance of Ss' expectation of therapeutic gain in facilitating fear reduction. Reviewed studies fall into 2 major categories: those that compare the relative efficacy of systematic desensitization and placebos and those that attempt to manipulate Ss' expectation of therapeutic gain within a particular technique (e.g., systematic desensitization). The methodological problems with this research include the failure of investigators to evaluate the experiential impact of expectancy-inducing instructions, the use of unconvincing placebo manipulations, and the predominant employment of mildly fearful, poorly motivated Ss. In spite of these problems, it is tentatively concluded that expectancy manipulations are important change mediators. Several mechanisms may explain how expectancy mediates change, including increased compliance with real treatment procedures; increased tendency to test reality after having undergone an "effective" therapy, with subsequent fear extinction and self-reinforcement for behavioral improvement; modification of demand characteristics after treatment; and modification of cognitive events controlling fear responding. (71 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the year 1971: Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives.

Presents the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association for the year 1971. These minutes constitute the official record of actions of the Association taken during the year. Reference is made to various reports, some of which will be published elsewhere. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computational comparison of two formulations for dynamic supply chain reconfiguration with capacity expansion and contraction

The strategic dynamic supply chain reconfiguration (DSCR) problem is to prescribe the location and capacity of each facility, select links used for transportation, and plan material flows through the supply chain, including production, inventory, backorder, and outsourcing levels. The objective is to minimize total cost. The network must be dynamically reconfigured (i.e., by opening facilities, expanding and/or contracting their capacities, and closing facilities) over time to accommodate changing trends in demand and/or costs. The problem involves a multi-period, multi-product, multi-echelon supply chain. Research objectives of this paper are a traditional formulation and a network-based model of the DSCR problem; tests to promote intuitive interpretation of our models; tests to identify computational characteristics of each model to determine if one offers superior solvability; and tests to identify sensitivity of run time relative to primary parameters.     

Research on college teaching: The historical background.

Experimental research on college teaching began with single variable studies of class size and lecture vs discussion. During the 1930s, research on student ratings of teachers began, and following World War II, studies of college teaching and learning became more common. In the decades from then to the 1980s, research moved to concern with a broader range of variables, to analyses of interactions between student and classroom variables, and to attention to processes as well as products resulting from teaching. Research on college teaching clearly meets J. B. Conant's (1947) criteria for a scientific field: progress in theory, methods, and established knowledge. Moreover, we now have demonstrated that educational research can contribute to educational practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)