Estimates of pollutant temporal and spatial variability in commercial buildings from the joint urban 2003 field experiments

In this paper, we report on the indoor concentrations from a suite of full-scale outdoor tracer-gas point releases conducted in the downtown area of Oklahoma City in 2003. A point release experiment consisted of releases of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) in multiple buildings and from different outdoor locations. From the measurements, we are able to estimate the concentration variations indoors for a building operating under “typical” operating conditions. The mean indoor spatial coefficients of variation are 30% to 45% from a daytime outdoor release are around 80% during an outdoor evening release. Having estimates of the spatial coefficient of variation provides stakeholders, including first responders, with the likely range of concentrations in the building when little is known about the building characteristics and operating behavior, such as developing urban-scale hazard and consequence analyses. We show differences in indoor measurements at different distances to the release points, floors of the building, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) operation. We also show estimates at different time resolutions. The statistics show that in the studied medium to large commercial buildings, spatial differences would result in peak indoor concentrations in certain parts of the buildings that may be substantially higher than the building average. To our knowledge, very few tracer gas measurements have been conducted in buildings of this scope, particularly with measurements on multiple floors and within a floor. The resulting estimates of spatial variability provide a unique opportunity for hazard assessment, and comparison to multi-zone models.     

Development and monitoring of an integrated bioprocess for production of a potential malaria vaccine with Pichia pastoris

An engineered variant of the yeast Pichia pastoris was used to produce the potential malaria vaccine D1M1. This paper describes the implementation of an expanded bed adsorption chromatography step into a sequential cultivation process of the yeast in order to link protein expression, cell release, and product capture of the secreted protein in a fully automated plant. The process is operated with a semi-continuous strategy for an integrated production. Process improvements have been achieved using design of experiments. Resulting purities of product achieved up to 87% with recoveries of 51% in a single downstream operation. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis of historical batch data was used to develop a golden batch model for process monitoring.     

多带抗噪声语音识别算法研究

根据Flether等人的研究,基于感知独立性假设的子带识别方法被用于抗噪声鲁棒语音识别。本文拓展子带方法,采用基于噪声污染假定的多带框架来减少噪声影响。论文不仅从理论上分析了噪声污染假定多带框架在识别性能上的潜在优势,而且提出了多带环境下的鲁棒语音识别算法。研究表明：多带框架不仅回避了独立感知假设要求,而且与子带方法相比,多带方法能更好的减少噪声影响,提高系统识别性能。     

大型结构试验和结构监测中的数据采集系统

结构试验和结构监测正在向大型化和复杂化发展,与之配套的数据采集系统也要能满足它们不断增长的需求。清华大学土木工程系开发了适用于土木工程结构试验与监测的集成数据采集系统 IMPDAS,它具有测点多,速度快,功能全等优点。它的任务,不仅仅是记录数据,而是集成并且管理数据,将各种数据信息有条理,有重点地反馈给试验者。本文将讨论计算机在大型结构试验和结构监测的数据采集及数据处理分析等方面的应用。     

Prediction Model for BTA Deep-Hole Machining using Fuzzy Clustering Approach: Experimental Study

In this article, a subtractive clustering-based fuzzy identification method and a Sugeno-type fuzzy inference system are used for modeling in metal cutting. This approach is considered with its application on the experimental study of Boring and Trepanning Association (BTA) deep-hole drilling. The model for the surface roughness is identified by using the cutting speed and feed as input data and roughness as the output data. Using subtractive clustering in both input and output spaces performs the model-building process. Minimum error model is obtained through enumerative search of clustering parameters. The fuzzy model obtained is capable of predicting the surface roughness for a given set of inputs (speed and feed). Therefore, the operator can predict the quality of the surface for a given set of working parameters and will then be able to set the machining parameters to achieve a certain surface quality. The fuzzy model is verified experimentally by further experimentation using different sets of inputs. The tool life is also investigated using the same approach. The fuzzy inference system obtained is capable of predicting the tool life for a given set of cutting parameters. Therefore, the operator will be able to predict how many minutes the cutting tool is going to last and will set the time for the next tool change.     

High temperature controlled atmosphere experiments for catalysts in a transmission electron microscope

A new transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimen preparation procedure for high temperature experiments using a controlled atmosphere specimen holder (HTCASH) has been developed. It is designed for studying the microstructure of catalyst specimens before and after treatments in various gases. The procedure involved (1) finding a new formula for the embedding material, (2) devising a new method of making specimen supports, and (3) developing a method for removing the embedding material after the specimen has been microtomed. These techniques were then brought together to produce the ideal specimens for the HTCASH experiments. As an extra benefit, this procedure is also suitable for preparing specimens for ultrahigh resolution imaging experiments. The application of the new procedure in HTCASH experiments is illustrated through a high temperature reduction of a Co/SiO₂-923 catalyst.     

A probabilistic model for cleavage fracture with a length scale--parameter estimation and predictions of stationary crack experiments

This study presents a large experimental investigation in the transition temperature region on a modified A508 steel. Tests were carried out on single-edge-notch-bend specimens with three different crack depth over specimen width ratios to capture the strong constraint effect on fracture toughness. Three test temperatures were considered, covering a range of 85 °C. All specimens failed by cleavage fracture prior to ductile tearing. A recently proposed probabilistic model for the cumulative failure by cleavage was applied to the comprehensive sets of experimental data. This modified weakest link model incorporates a length scale, which together with a threshold stress reduce the scatter in predicted toughness distributions as well as introduces a fracture toughness threshold value. Model parameters were estimated by a robust procedure, which is crucial in applications of probabilistic models to real structures. The conformity between predicted and experimental toughness distributions, respectively, were notable at all the test temperatures.     

Generation and selection of likely interpretations during plan recognition in task-oriented consultation systems

This paper presents a mechanism which infers a user's plans from his/her utterances by directing the inference process towards the more likely interpretations of a speaker's statements among many possible interpretations. Our mechanism uses Bayesian theory of probability to assess the likelihood of an interpretation, and it complements this assessment by taking into consideration two aspects of an interpretation: its coherence and its information content. The coherence of an interpretation is determined by the relationships between the different statements in the discourse. The information content of an interpretation is a measure of how well defined the interpretation is in terms of the actions to be performed on the basis of this interpretation. This measure is used to guide the inference process towards interpretations with higher information content. The information content of an interpretation depends on the specificity and the certainty of the inferences in it, where the certainty of an inference depends on the knowledge on which the inference is based. Our mechanism has been developed for use in task-oriented consultation systems. The particular domain that we have chosen for exploration is that of travel booking.