Distributed non-negative matrix factorization with determination of the number of latent features

The Journal of Supercomputing - The holistic analysis and understanding of the latent (that is, not directly observable) variables and patterns buried in large datasets is crucial for data-driven...     

Virtual reality-enhanced stroke rehabilitation

A personal computer (PC)-based desktop virtual reality (VR) system was developed for rehabilitating hand function in stroke patients. The system uses two input devices, a CyberGlove and a Rutgers Master II-ND (RMII) force feedback glove, allowing user interaction with a virtual environment. This consists of four rehabilitation routines, each designed to exercise one specific parameter of hand movement: range, speed, fractionation or strength. The use of performance-based target levels is designed to increase patient motivation and individualize exercise difficulty to a patient's current state. Pilot clinical trials have been performed using the above system combined with noncomputer tasks, such as pegboard insertion or tracing of 2D patterns. Three chronic stroke patients used this rehabilitation protocol daily for two weeks. Objective measurements showed that each patient showed improvement on most of the hand parameters over the course of the training. Subjective evaluation by the patients was also positive. This technical report focuses on this newly developed technology for VR rehabilitation     

The Rutgers Master II-new design force-feedback glove

The Rutgers Master II-ND glove is a haptic interface designed for dextrous interactions with virtual environments. The glove provides force feedback up to 16 N each to the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingertips. It uses custom pneumatic actuators arranged in a direct-drive configuration in the palm. Unlike commercial haptic gloves, the direct-drive actuators make unnecessary cables and pulleys, resulting in a more compact and lighter structure. The force-feedback structure also serves as position measuring exoskeleton, by integrating noncontact Hall-effect and infrared sensors. The glove is connected to a haptic-control interface that reads its sensors and servos its actuators. The interface has pneumatic servovalves, signal conditioning electronics, A/D/A boards, power supply and an imbedded Pentium PC. This distributed computing assures much faster control bandwidth than would otherwise be possible. Communication with the host PC is done over an RS232 line. Comparative data with the CyberGrasp commercial haptic glove is presented     

Long-Term Spectrum Monitoring with Big Data Analysis and Machine Learning for Cloud-Based Radio Access Networks

Spectrum monitoring is important for efficient spectrum sharing and resource management in cloud-based radio access networks (C-RAN). In this paper we show how data obtained from long-term spectrum monitoring together with machine learning (ML) operating on big data (BD) can be used in a C-RAN scenario for spectrum management purposes. We propose an approach for spectrum occupancy forecasting which can be used to reduce the delay in making dynamic spectrum allocation decisions and improve the cognitive and management functionalities of cloud-based architectures such as C-RAN. The spectrum occupancy and usage activity in a predefined frequency band is based on the statistical processing of a large amount of collected data and the introduction of a frequency–time resources indicator as a measure of spectrum usage. Furthermore, we apply ML algorithms to predict spectrum usage and compare the predicted with actual measured data. Taking into consideration that the accuracy of the prediction depends on the volume of collected data and the time of prediction on the BD and ML approach, we propose the development of a cloud-based generic processing architecture to solve the “accuracy versus latency” trade-off problem. The proposed architecture is appropriate for deployment in cognitive C-RAN.     

Solidification Behavior and Weldability of Dissimilar Welds Between a Cr-Free,Ni-Cu Welding Consumable and Type 304L Austenitic Stainless Steel

The solidification behavior of a Cr-free welding consumable based on the Ni-Cu system was evaluated in conjunction with Type 304L stainless steel. The weld metal microstructure evolution was evaluated with optical and secondary electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, button melting, and thermodynamic (CALPHAD-based) modeling. Solidification partitioning patterns showed that higher dilutions of the filler metal by Type 304L increased segregation of Ti, Cu, and Si to interdendritic regions. Button melting experiments showed a widening of the solidification temperature range with increasing dilution because of the expansion of the austenite solidification range and formation of Ti(C,N) via a eutectic reaction. The model predictions showed good correlation with button melting experiments and were used to evaluate the nature of the Ti(C,N) precipitation reaction. Solidification cracking susceptibility of the weld metal was shown to increase with dilution of 304L stainless steel based on testing conducted with the cast pin tear test. The increase in cracking susceptibility is associated with expansion of the solidification temperature range and the presence of eutectic liquid at the end of solidification that wets solidification grain boundaries.     

Removal of copper and cadmium from hydrometallurgical leach solutions by fluidised bed electrolysis

A fluidised bed cell which consists of a bed of inert glass beads, in which are immersed expanded mesh electrodes, is used to provide high ion transfer conditions making it possible to recover metals efficiently from dilute solutions. The use of the cell in the removal of Cu and Cd from dilute solutions is described, and the effects of cathode density, pH, time, type of electrode, distance between the electrodes and presence of other ions in solutions studied. These investigations are then extended to examine the electrolysis of solutions obtained by leaching a copper—zinc calcine.     

Determination of optical parameters of very thin (lambda/50) films

A straightforward approach for estimation of thickness (d), real (epsilon(1)) and imaginary parts (epsilon(2)) of the complex permittivity of very thin films from spectrophotometric measurements is presented. The uncertainties in epsilon(1), epsilon(2), and d due to methodical error and the uncertainties in the measured quantities are investigated. It is shown that the influence of these factors is considerable when epsilon(1), epsilon(2), and d are obtained simultaneously for each wavelength. The accuracy of epsilon(1), epsilon(2), and d is significantly increased if the value of d is evaluated first, its value is kept constant over the whole spectral region, and then epsilon(1) and epsilon(2) are calculated for each wavelength.     

Spectral Stokesmeter. 1. Implementation of the device

We describe a spectral Stokesmeter: a device for fast simultaneous measurement of the four Stokes parameters of light. It consists of an original optical part, a four-channel scanning optoelectronic system, and a controlling computer system. The original optical scheme was first proposed by us. It is based on two holographic gratings, one of which is a special type of polarization grating. It allows an easy calibration of the device comprising wavelength and sensitivity calibration. The spectral range of the present implementation of the spectral Stokesmeter is 520-750 nm, and the error in the measurement of the normalized Stokes parameters is < or = 0.05.