Abstract: Corporate credit rating prediction using statistical and
artificial intelligence (AI) techniques has been one of the attractive
research topics in the literature. In recent years, multiclass
classification models such as artificial neural network (ANN) or
multiclass support vector machine (MSVM) have become a very
appealing machine learning approaches due to their good
performance. However, most of them have only focused on classifying
samples into nominal categories, thus the unique characteristic of the
credit rating - ordinality - has been seldom considered in their
approaches. This study proposes new types of ANN and MSVM
classifiers, which are named OMANN and OMSVM respectively.
OMANN and OMSVM are designed to extend binary ANN or SVM
classifiers by applying ordinal pairwise partitioning (OPP) strategy.
These models can handle ordinal multiple classes efficiently and
effectively. To validate the usefulness of these two models, we applied
them to the real-world bond rating case. We compared the results of
our models to those of conventional approaches. The experimental
results showed that our proposed models improve classification
accuracy in comparison to typical multiclass classification techniques
with the reduced computation resource.
Abstract: The output beam quality of multi transverse modes of
laser, are relatively poor. In order to obtain better beam quality, one
may use an aperture inside the laser resonator. In this case, various
transverse modes can be selected. We have selected various
transverse modes both by simulation and doing experiment. By
inserting a circular aperture inside the diode end-pumped Nd:YAG
pulsed laser resonator, we have obtained 00 TEM , 01 TEM
, 20 TEM and have studied which parameters, can change the mode
shape. Then, we have determined the beam quality factor of TEM00
gaussian mode.
Abstract: In this paper is presented a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach in order to qualify and monitor the broadband lines in efficient way. The methodology used for interpolation is the Delaunay Triangular Irregular Network (TIN). This method is applied for a case study in ISP Greece monitoring 120,000 broadband lines.
Abstract: In this paper, a new approach based on the extent of
friendship between the nodes is proposed which makes the nodes to
co-operate in an ad hoc environment. The extended DSR protocol is
tested under different scenarios by varying the number of malicious
nodes and node moving speed. It is also tested varying the number of
nodes in simulation used. The result indicates the achieved
throughput by extended DSR is greater than the standard DSR and
indicates the percentage of malicious drops over total drops are less
in the case of extended DSR than the standard DSR.
Abstract: The response surface methodology (RSM) is a
collection of mathematical and statistical techniques useful in the
modeling and analysis of problems in which the dependent variable
receives the influence of several independent variables, in order to
determine which are the conditions under which should operate these
variables to optimize a production process. The RSM estimated a
regression model of first order, and sets the search direction using the
method of maximum / minimum slope up / down MMS U/D.
However, this method selects the step size intuitively, which can
affect the efficiency of the RSM. This paper assesses how the step
size affects the efficiency of this methodology. The numerical
examples are carried out through Monte Carlo experiments,
evaluating three response variables: efficiency gain function, the
optimum distance and the number of iterations. The results in the
simulation experiments showed that in response variables efficiency
and gain function at the optimum distance were not affected by the
step size, while the number of iterations is found that the efficiency if
it is affected by the size of the step and function type of test used.
Abstract: Speedups from mapping four real-life DSP
applications on an embedded system-on-chip that couples coarsegrained
reconfigurable logic with an instruction-set processor are
presented. The reconfigurable logic is realized by a 2-Dimensional
Array of Processing Elements. A design flow for improving
application-s performance is proposed. Critical software parts, called
kernels, are accelerated on the Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable
Array. The kernels are detected by profiling the source code. For
mapping the detected kernels on the reconfigurable logic a prioritybased
mapping algorithm has been developed. Two 4x4 array
architectures, which differ in their interconnection structure among
the Processing Elements, are considered. The experiments for eight
different instances of a generic system show that important overall
application speedups have been reported for the four applications.
The performance improvements range from 1.86 to 3.67, with an
average value of 2.53, compared with an all-software execution.
These speedups are quite close to the maximum theoretical speedups
imposed by Amdahl-s law.
Abstract: We introduce the notion of strongly ω -Gorenstein modules, where ω is a faithfully balanced self-orthogonal module. This gives a common generalization of both Gorenstein projective (injective) modules and ω-Gorenstein modules. We investigate some characterizations of strongly ω -Gorenstein modules. Consequently, some properties under change of rings are obtained.
Abstract: The study of human hand morphology reveals that developing an artificial hand with the capabilities of human hand is an extremely challenging task. This paper presents the development of a robotic prosthetic hand focusing on the improvement of a tendon driven mechanism towards a biomimetic prosthetic hand. The design of this prosthesis hand is geared towards achieving high level of dexterity and anthropomorphism by means of a new hybrid mechanism that integrates a miniature motor driven actuation mechanism, a Shape Memory Alloy actuated mechanism and a passive mechanical linkage. The synergy of these actuators enables the flexion-extension movement at each of the finger joints within a limited size, shape and weight constraints. Tactile sensors are integrated on the finger tips and the finger phalanges area. This prosthesis hand is developed with an exact size ratio that mimics a biological hand. Its behavior resembles the human counterpart in terms of working envelope, speed and torque, and thus resembles both the key physical features and the grasping functionality of an adult hand.
Abstract: Concerns about low levels of children-s physical activity and motor skill development, prompted the Ministry of Education to trial a physical activity pilot project (PAPP) in 16 New Zealand primary schools. The project comprised professional development and training in physical education for lead teachers and introduced four physical activity coordinators to liaise with and increase physical activity opportunities in the pilot schools. A survey of generalist teachers (128 baseline, 155 post-intervention) from these schools looked at timetabled physical activity sessions and issues related to teaching physical education. The authors calculated means and standard deviations of data relating to timetabled PE sessions and used a one-way analysis of variance to determine significant differences. Results indicated time devoted to physical activity related subjects significantly increased over the course of the intervention. Teacher-s reported improved confidence and competence, which resulted in an improvement in quality physical education delivered more often.
Abstract: This paper presents an effective framework for Chinesesyntactic parsing, which includes two parts. The first one is a parsing framework, which is based on an improved bottom-up chart parsingalgorithm, and integrates the idea of the beam search strategy of N bestalgorithm and heuristic function of A* algorithm for pruning, then get multiple parsing trees. The second is a novel evaluation model, which integrates contextual and partial lexical information into traditional PCFG model and defines a new score function. Using this model, the tree with the highest score is found out as the best parsing tree. Finally,the contrasting experiment results are given. Keywords?syntactic parsing, PCFG, pruning, evaluation model.
Abstract: Non-saturated soils that while saturation greatly
decrease their volume, have sudden settlement due to increasing
humidity, fracture and structural crack are called loess soils. Whereas
importance of civil projects including: dams, canals and
constructions bearing this type of soil and thereof problems, it is
required for carrying out more research and study in relation to loess
soils. This research studies shear strength parameters by using
grading test, Atterberg limit, compression, direct shear and
consolidation and then effect of using cement and lime additives on
stability of loess soils is studied. In related tests, lime and cement are
separately added to mixed ratios under different percentages of soil
and for different times the stabilized samples are processed and effect
of aforesaid additives on shear strength parameters of soil is studied.
Results show that upon passing time the effect of additives and
collapsible potential is greatly decreased and upon increasing
percentage of cement and lime the maximum dry density is
decreased; however, optimum humidity is increased. In addition,
liquid limit and plastic index is decreased; however, plastic index
limit is increased. It is to be noted that results of direct shear test
reveal increasing shear strength of soil due to increasing cohesion
parameter and soil friction angle.
Abstract: Time varying network induced delays in networked
control systems (NCS) are known for degrading control system-s
quality of performance (QoP) and causing stability problems. In
literature, a control method employing modeling of communication
delays as probability distribution, proves to be a better method. This
paper focuses on modeling of network induced delays as probability
distribution.
CAN and MIL-STD-1553B are extensively used to carry periodic
control and monitoring data in networked control systems.
In literature, methods to estimate only the worst-case delays for
these networks are available. In this paper probabilistic network
delay model for CAN and MIL-STD-1553B networks are given.
A systematic method to estimate values to model parameters from
network parameters is given. A method to predict network delay in
next cycle based on the present network delay is presented. Effect of
active network redundancy and redundancy at node level on network
delay and system response-time is also analyzed.
Abstract: Independent component analysis (ICA) is a computational method for finding underlying signals or components from multivariate statistical data. The ICA method has been successfully applied in many fields, e.g. in vision research, brain imaging, geological signals and telecommunications. In this paper, we apply the ICA method to an analysis of mass spectra of oligomeric species emerged from aluminium sulphate. Mass spectra are typically complex, because they are linear combinations of spectra from different types of oligomeric species. The results show that ICA can decomposite the spectral components for useful information. This information is essential in developing coagulation phases of water treatment processes.
Abstract: The Block Sorting problem is to sort a given
permutation moving blocks. A block is defined as a substring
of the given permutation, which is also a substring of the
identity permutation. Block Sorting has been proved to be
NP-Hard. Until now two different 2-Approximation algorithms
have been presented for block sorting. These are the best known
algorithms for Block Sorting till date. In this work we present
a different characterization of Block Sorting in terms of a
transposition cycle graph. Then we suggest a heuristic,
which we show to exhibit a 2-approximation performance
guarantee for most permutations.
Abstract: Considering a reservoir with periodic states and
different cost functions with penalty, its release rules can be
modeled as a periodic Markov decision process (PMDP). First,
we prove that policy- iteration algorithm also works for the
PMDP. Then, with policy- iteration algorithm, we obtain the
optimal policies for a special aperiodic reservoir model with
two cost functions under large penalty and give a discussion
when the penalty is small.
Abstract: Baltic competitiveness is quite controversial. In a
situation with the rapid structural changes, economy develops in
balance very rarely - in different fields will always be more rapid
changes in another more stagnation.
Analyzing different economic indices developed by international
organizations the situation in three Baltic countries are described
from a different competitiveness positions highlighting strengths and
weaknesses of each country.
Exploring the openness of the economy, it is possible to observe
certain risks included in the reports describing situation of
competitiveness where government policies competing in the tax
system, the rates of labour market policies, investment environment,
etc. This is a very important factor resulting in competitive
advantage.
Baltic countries are still at a weak position from a technological
perspective, and need to borrow the knowledge and technology from
more developed countries.
Abstract: The present work compares the performance of three
turbulence modeling approach (based on the two-equation k -ε
model) in predicting erosive wear in multi-size dense slurry flow
through rotating channel. All three turbulence models include
rotation modification to the production term in the turbulent kineticenergy
equation. The two-phase flow field obtained numerically
using Galerkin finite element methodology relates the local flow
velocity and concentration to the wear rate via a suitable wear model.
The wear models for both sliding wear and impact wear mechanisms
account for the particle size dependence. Results of predicted wear
rates using the three turbulence models are compared for a large
number of cases spanning such operating parameters as rotation rate,
solids concentration, flow rate, particle size distribution and so forth.
The root-mean-square error between FE-generated data and the
correlation between maximum wear rate and the operating
parameters is found less than 2.5% for all the three models.
Abstract: Within the domain of Systems Engineering the need
to perform property aggregation to understand, analyze and manage
complex systems is unequivocal. This can be seen in numerous
domains such as capability analysis, Mission Essential Competencies
(MEC) and Critical Design Features (CDF). Furthermore, the need
to consider uncertainty propagation as well as the sensitivity of
related properties within such analysis is equally as important when
determining a set of critical properties within such a system.
This paper describes this property breakdown in a number of
domains within Systems Engineering and, within the area of CDFs,
emphasizes the importance of uncertainty analysis. As part of this, a
section of the paper describes possible techniques which may be used
within uncertainty propagation and in conclusion an example is
described utilizing one of the techniques for property and uncertainty
aggregation within an aircraft system to aid the determination of
Critical Design Features.
Abstract: This research was carried out to determine the
possible effects of low electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to the
developing mice fetuses. Pregnant mice were exposed to EMF
exposure at 0mT (sham) and 1.2 mT for six hours per session, carried
out on gestation day 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15. Samples from the stillborn
offspring were observed for morphological defects. The heart didn-t
show progressive cellular damage, the lungs were congested and
emphysemics. The bones were in advance stage of hypertrophy.
Spectrums of morphological defects were observed over 70% of the
surviving offspring. These results indicate that even at lower
exposure to low EMF, is enough to induce morphological defects in
prenatal mice.
Abstract: Transaction management is one of the most crucial requirements for enterprise application development which often require concurrent access to distributed data shared amongst multiple application / nodes. Transactions guarantee the consistency of data records when multiple users or processes perform concurrent operations. Existing Fault Tolerance Infrastructure for Mobile Agents (FTIMA) provides a fault tolerant behavior in distributed transactions and uses multi-agent system for distributed transaction and processing. In the existing FTIMA architecture, data flows through the network and contains personal, private or confidential information. In banking transactions a minor change in the transaction can cause a great loss to the user. In this paper we have modified FTIMA architecture to ensure that the user request reaches the destination server securely and without any change. We have used triple DES for encryption/ decryption and MD5 algorithm for validity of message.