A new graphical user interface for fast construction of computation phantoms and MCNP calculations : application to calibration of in vivo measurement systems Reports on a new utility for development of computational phantoms for Monte Carlo calculations and data analysis for in vivo measurements of radionuclides deposited in tissues . The individual properties of each worker can be acquired for a rather precise geometric representation of his -LRB- her -RRB- anatomy , which is particularly important for low energy gamma ray emitting sources such as thorium , uranium , plutonium and other actinides . The software enables automatic creation of an MCNP input data file based on scanning data . The utility includes segmentation of images obtained with either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging by distinguishing tissues according to their signal -LRB- brightness -RRB- and specification of the source and detector . In addition , a coupling of individual voxels within the tissue is used to reduce the memory demand and to increase the calculational speed . The utility was tested for low energy emitters in plastic and biological tissues as well as for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning information

O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O B O B I I I O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O O O O B I I O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B O O O O O O B I I I I I O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B I O O B I I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B I O B I I I I


The development of a mobile manipulator imaging system for bridge crack inspection A mobile manipulator imaging system is developed for the automation of bridge crack inspection . During bridge safety inspections , an eyesight inspection is made for preliminary evaluation and screening before a more precise inspection . The inspection for cracks is an important part of the preliminary evaluation . Currently , the inspectors must stand on the platform of a bridge inspection vehicle or a temporarily erected scaffolding to examine the underside of a bridge . However , such a procedure is risky . To help automate the bridge crack inspection process , we installed two CCD cameras and a four-axis manipulator system on a mobile vehicle . The parallel cameras are used to detect cracks . The manipulator system is equipped with binocular charge coupled devices -LRB- CCD -RRB- for examining structures that may not be accessible to the eye . The system also reduces the danger of accidents to the human inspectors . The manipulator system consists of four arms . Balance weights are placed at the ends of arms 2 and 4 , respectively , to maintain the center of gravity during operation . Mechanically , arms 2 and 4 can revolve smoothly . Experiments indicated that the system could be useful for bridge crack inspections

O O O O B I B I O B I I O B I B I O O O O B O B I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

mobile manipulator
imaging system
bridge crack inspection
automation
eyesight inspection
ccd cameras
parallel cameras
charge coupled devices


Solution of the safe problem on -LRB- 0,1 -RRB- - matrices A safe problem with mn locks is studied . It is reduced to a system of linear equations in the modulo 2 residue class . There are three possible variants defined by the numbers m and n evenness , with only one of them having a solution . In two other cases , correction of the initial state of the safe insuring a solution is proposed

O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

safe problem
mn locks
linear equations
modulo 2 residue class


I-WAP : an intelligent WAP site management system The popularity regarding wireless communications is such that more and more WAP sites have been developed with wireless markup language -LRB- WML -RRB- . Meanwhile , to translate hypertext markup language -LRB- HTML -RRB- pages into proper WML ones becomes imperative since it is difficult for WAP users to read most contents designed for PC users via their mobile phone screens . However , for those sites that have been maintained with hypertext markup language -LRB- HTML -RRB- , considerable time and manpower costs will be incurred to rebuild them with WML . In this paper , we propose an intelligent WAP site management system to cope with these problems . With the help of the intelligent management system , the original contents of HTML Web sites can be automatically translated to proper WAP content in an efficient way . As a consequence , the costs associated with maintaining WAP sites could be significantly reduced . The management system also allows the system manager to define the relevance of numerals and keywords for removing unimportant or meaningless contents . The original contents will be reduced and reorganized to fit the size of mobile phone screens , thus reducing the communication cost and enhancing readability . Numerical results gained through various experiments have evinced the effective performance of the WAP management system

O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

intelligent wap site management system
wireless markup language
hypertext markup language
mobile phone
communication cost
readability

i-wap
wireless communication
html pages
wireless mobile internet


General solution of a density functionally gradient piezoelectric cantilever and its applications We have used the plane strain theory of transversely isotropic bodies to study a piezoelectric cantilever . In order to find the general solution of a density functionally gradient piezoelectric cantilever , we have used the inverse method -LRB- i.e. the Airy stress function method -RRB- . We have obtained the stress and induction functions in the form of polynomials as well as the general solution of the beam . Based on this general solution , we have deduced the solutions of the cantilever under different loading conditions . Furthermore , as applications of this general solution in engineering , we have studied the tip deflection and blocking force of a piezoelectric cantilever actuator . Finally , we have addressed a method to determine the density distribution profile for a given piezoelectric material

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I

plane strain theory
transversely isotropic bodies
inverse method
airy stress function
polynomials
loading conditions
piezoelectric cantilever actuator
density distribution profile
piezoelectric material


A new approach to the decomposition of Boolean functions by the method of q-partitions . II . Repeated decomposition For pt.I . see Upr . Sist . Mash. , no. 6 , p. 29-42 -LRB- 1999 -RRB- . A new approach to the decomposition of Boolean , functions that depend on n variables and are represented in various forms is considered . The approach is based on the method of q-partitioning of minterms and on the introduced concept of a decomposition clone . The theorem on simple disjunctive decomposition of full and partial functions is formulated . The approach proposed is illustrated by examples

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O

minterms
decomposition clone
disjunctive decomposition
partial functions

boolean functions decomposition
logic synthesis
q-partitions


Modelling user acceptance of building management systems This study examines user acceptance of building management systems -LRB- BMS -RRB- using a questionnaire survey . These systems are crucial for optimising building performance and yet it has been widely reported that users are not making full use of their systems ' facilities . Established models of technology acceptance have been employed in this research , and the positive influence of user perceptions of ease of use and compatibility has been demonstrated . Previous research has indicated differing levels of importance of perceived ease of use relative to other factors . Here , perceived ease of use is shown generally to be more important , though the balance between this and compatibility is moderated by the user perceptions of voluntariness

O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O B

building management systems
questionnaire survey
user perceptions
ease of use
compatibility
voluntariness

user acceptance modelling
technology acceptance model
innovation characteristics
information systems


Computational finite-element schemes for optimal control of an elliptic system with conjugation conditions New optimal control problems are considered for distributed systems described by elliptic equations with conjugate conditions and a quadratic minimized function . Highly accurate computational discretization schemes are constructed for the case where a feasible control set u/sub delta / coincides with the full Hilbert space u of controls

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I O O B I O B I O O B I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

optimal control problems
distributed systems
elliptic equations
conjugate conditions
quadratic minimized function
computational discretization schemes


A new method of systemological analysis coordinated with the procedure of object-oriented design . II For pt.I . see Vestn . KhGPU , no. 81 , p.15-18 -LRB- 2000 -RRB- . The paper presents the results of development of an object-oriented systemological method used to design complex systems . A formal system representation , as well as an axiomatics of the calculus of systems as functional flow-type objects based on a Node-Function-Object class hierarchy are proposed . A formalized NFO/UFO analysis algorithm and CASE tools used to support it are considered

O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O

systemological analysis
formal system representation
axiomatics
case tools

object-oriented design
complex systems design
functional flow-type objects
formalized nfo/ufo analysis algorithm


A framework of electronic tendering for government procurement : a lesson learned in Taiwan To render government procurement efficient , transparent , nondiscriminating , and accountable , an electronic government procurement system is required . Accordingly , Taiwan government procurement law -LRB- TGPL -RRB- states that suppliers may employ electronic devices to forward a tender . This investigation demonstrates how the electronic government procurement system functions and reengineers internal procurement processes , which in turn benefits both government bodies and vendors . The system features explored herein include posting/receiving bids via the Internet , vendor registration , certificate authorization , contract development tools , bid/request for proposal -LRB- RFP -RRB- development , online bidding , and online payment , all of which can be integrated easily within most existing information infrastructures

O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O

reengineering
internet bids
request for proposal development
rfp development
certification authority
payment gateway
public key infrastructure


Identification of states of complex systems with estimation of admissible measurement errors on the basis of fuzzy information The problem of identification of states of complex systems on the basis of fuzzy values of informative attributes is considered . Some estimates of a maximally admissible degree of measurement error are obtained that make it possible , using the apparatus of fuzzy set theory , to correctly identify the current state of a system

O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O

admissible measurement errors
fuzzy information
informative attributes
measurement error
fuzzy set theory


A method for solution of systems of linear algebraic equations with m-dimensional lambda - matrices A system of linear algebraic equations with m-dimensional lambda - matrices is considered . The proposed method of searching for the solution of this system lies in reducing it to a numerical system of a special kind

O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O

linear algebraic equations
numerical system


Integrating building management system and facilities management on the Internet Recently , it is of great interest to adopt the Internet/intranet to develop building management systems -LRB- BMS -RRB- and facilities management systems -LRB- FMS -RRB- . This paper addresses two technical issues : the Web-based access -LRB- including database integration -RRB- and the integration of BMS and FMS . These should be addressed for accessing BMS remotely via the Internet , integrating control networks using the Internet protocols and infrastructures , and using Internet/intranet for building facilities management . An experimental Internet-enabled system that integrates building and facilities management systems has been developed and tested . This system integrated open control networks with the Internet and is developed utilizing the embedded Web server , the PC Web server and the Distributed Component Object Model -LRB- DCOM -RRB- software development technology on the platform of an open control network . Three strategies for interconnecting BMS local networks via Internet/intranet are presented and analyzed

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B O O B I I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B I I O O B I I I O B O B I I O O O O O B I I O O O O O B O O O O O O O O

building management systems
bms
facilities management systems
fms
database integration
internet protocols
embedded web server
pc web server
distributed component object model
dcom
software development technology
open control network

intranet
web-based access
local network interconnection


Estimating populations for collective dose calculations The collective dose provides an estimate of the effects of facility operations on the public based on an estimate of the population in the area . Geographic information system software , electronic population data resources , and a personal computer were used to develop estimates of population within 80 km radii of two sites

O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O B I I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

collective dose calculations
facility operations
public
geographic information system software
electronic population data resources
personal computer


Accelerated simulation of the steady-state availability of non-Markovian systems A general accelerated simulation method for evaluation of the steady-state availability of non-Markovian systems is proposed . It is applied to the investigation of a class of systems with repair . Numerical examples are given

B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O

accelerated simulation
numerical examples

steady-state availability
non-markovian systems
general accelerated simulation method


Descriptological foundations of programming Descriptological foundations of programming are constructed . An explication of the concept of a descriptive process is given . The operations of introduction and elimination of abstraction at the level of processes are refined . An intensional concept of a bipolar function is introduced . An explication of the concept of introduction and extraction of abstraction at the bipole level is given . On this basis , a complete set of descriptological operations is constructed

B I O B B I O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

descriptological foundations
programming
descriptive process
intensional concept
bipolar function
bipole level


Compatibility of systems of linear constraints over the set of natural numbers Criteria of compatibility of a system of linear Diophantine equations , strict inequations , and nonstrict inequations are considered . Upper bounds for components of a minimal set of solutions and algorithms of construction of minimal generating sets of solutions for all types of systems are given . These criteria and the corresponding algorithms for constructing a minimal supporting set of solutions can be used in solving all the considered types of systems and systems of mixed types

O O O O B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

linear constraints
set of natural numbers
linear diophantine equations
strict inequations
nonstrict inequations
upper bounds
minimal generating sets


Twenty years of the literature on acquiring out-of-print materials This article reviews the last two-and-a-half decades of literature on acquiring out-of-print materials to assess recurring issues and identify changing practices . The out-of-print literature is uniform in its assertion that libraries need to acquire o.p. materials to replace worn or damaged copies , to replace missing copies , to duplicate copies of heavily used materials , to fill gaps in collections , to strengthen weak collections , to continue to develop strong collections , and to provide materials for new courses , new programs , and even entire new libraries

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

out-of-print materials
out-of-print books
library materials
acquisition


Mathematical fundamentals of constructing fuzzy Bayesian inference techniques Problems and an associated technique for developing a Bayesian approach to decision-making in the case of fuzzy data are presented . The concept of fuzzy and pseudofuzzy quantities is introduced and main operations with pseudofuzzy quantities are considered . The basic relationships and the principal concepts of the Bayesian decision procedure based on the modus-ponens rule are proposed . Some problems concerned with the practical realization of the fuzzy Bayesian method are considered

B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

mathematical fundamentals
fuzzy bayesian inference techniques
pseudofuzzy quantities


Books on demand : just-in-time acquisitions The Purdue University Libraries Interlibrary Loan unit proposed a pilot project to purchase patrons ' loan requests from Amazon . com , lend them to the patrons , and then add the titles to the collection . Staff analyzed previous monograph loans , developed ordering criteria , implemented the proposal as a pilot project for six months , and evaluated the resulting patron comments , statistics , and staff perceptions . As a result of enthusiastic patron comments and a review of the project statistics , the program was extended

O O O O O O O B I I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O

purdue university libraries interlibrary loan unit


Nonlinear extrapolation algorithm for realization of a scalar random process A method of construction of a nonlinear extrapolation algorithm is proposed . This method makes it possible to take into account any nonlinear random dependences that exist in an investigated process and are described by mixed central moment functions . The method is based on the V. S. Pugachev canonical decomposition apparatus . As an example , the problem of nonlinear extrapolation is solved for a moment function of third order

B I I O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O

nonlinear extrapolation algorithm
scalar random process
nonlinear random dependences
mixed central moment functions
canonical decomposition apparatus
moment function


Precoded OFDM with adaptive vector channel allocation for scalable video transmission over frequency-selective fading channels Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing -LRB- OFDM -RRB- has been applied in broadband wireline and wireless systems for high data rate transmission where severe intersymbol interference -LRB- ISI -RRB- always occurs . The conventional OFDM system provides advantages through conversion of an ISI channel into ISI-free subchannels at multiple frequency bands . However , it may suffer from channel spectral nulls and heavy data rate overhead due to cyclic prefix insertion . Previously , a new OFDM framework , the precoded OFDM , has been proposed to mitigate the above two problems through precoding and conversion of an ISI channel into ISI-free vector channels . In this paper , we consider the application of the precoded OFDM system to efficient scalable video transmission . We propose to enhance the precoded OFDM system with adaptive vector channel allocation to provide stronger protection against errors to more important layers in the layered bit stream structure of scalable video . The more critical layers , or equivalently , the lower layers , are allocated vector channels of higher transmission quality . The channel quality is characterized by Frobenius norm metrics ; based on channel estimation at the receiver . The channel allocation information is fed back periodically to the transmitter through a control channel . Simulation results have demonstrated the robustness of the proposed scheme to noise and fading inherent in wireless channels

B I O B I I I O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O O B I O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O

orthogonal frequency division multiplexing

frequency-selective fading channels
isi-free vector channels


The acquisition of out-of-print music Non-specialist librarians are alerted to factors important in the successful acquisition of out-of-print music , both scholarly editions and performance editions . The appropriate technical music vocabulary , the music publishing industry , specialized publishers and vendors , and methods of acquisition of out-of-print printed music are introduced , and the need for familiarity with them is emphasized

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O B I I O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

scholarly editions
performance editions
technical music vocabulary
music publishing industry
specialized publishers

out-of-print music
specialized vendors
out-of-print printed music


New lower bounds of the size of error-correcting codes for the Z-channel Optimization problems on graphs are formulated to obtain new lower bounds of the size of error-correcting codes for the Z-channel

O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O

lower bounds
optimization problems
graphs


The variance of firm growth rates : the ` scaling ' puzzle Recent evidence suggests that a power-law relationship exists between a firm 's size and the variance of its growth rate . The flatness of the relation is regarded as puzzling , in that it suggests that large firms are not much more stable than small firms . It has been suggested that the powerlaw nature of the relationship reflects the presence of some form of correlation of growth rates across the firm 's constituent businesses . Here , it is shown that a model of independent businesses which allows for the fact that these businesses vary in size , as modelled by a simple ` partitions of integers ' model , provides a good representation of what is observed empirically

O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

firm growth rates
flatness
correlation
constituent businesses

scaling puzzle
power-law
partitions of integers model
size distribution
corporate growth


Control centers are here to stay Despite changes with different structures , market rules , and uncertainties , a control center must always be in place to maintain the security , reliability , and quality of electric service . This article focuses on the energy management system -LRB- EMS -RRB- control center , identifying the major functions that have become standard components of every application software package . The two most important control center functions , security control and load-following control , guarantee the continuity of electric service , which after all , is the end-product of the utility business . New technology trends in the design of control center infrastructures are emerging in the liberalized environment of the energy market . An example of a control center infrastructure is described . The article ends with a concern for the security of the control center itself

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

energy management system
standard components
application software package
security control
control center infrastructures
liberalized environment
energy market

ems control centers
load-following control
electric service continuity


Online auctions : dynamic pricing and the lodging industry The traditional channels of distribution for overnight accommodation are rapidly being displaced by Web site scripting , online intermediaries , and specialty brokers . Businesses that pioneered Internet usage relied on it as a sales and marketing alternative to predecessor product distribution channels . As such , Web sites replace the traditional trading model to the Internet . Web-enabled companies are popular because the medium renders the process faster , less costly , highly reliable , and secure . Auction-based models impact business models by converting the price setting mechanism from supplier-centric to market-centric and transforming the trading model from `` one to many '' to `` many to many . '' Historically , pricing was based on the cost of production plus a margin of profit . Traditionally , as products and services move through the supply chain , from the producer to the consumer , various intermediaries added their share of profit to the price . As Internet based mediums of distribution become more prevalent , traditional pricing models are being supplanted with dynamic pricing . A dynamic pricing model represents a flexible system that changes prices not only from product to product , but also from customer to customer and transaction to transaction . Many industry leaders are skeptical of the long run impact of online auctions on lodging industry profit margins , despite the fact pricing theory suggests that an increase in the flow of information results in efficient market pricing . The future of such endeavors remains promising , but controversial

B I O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

online auctions
dynamic pricing
lodging industry
web site scripting
online intermediaries
specialty brokers
internet usage
sales
marketing
trading model
business models
price setting mechanism
supply chain


Optimal linear control in stabilizer design The most common method of improving stability of the power system is the synthesis of the turbine and generator control systems , because of the high effectiveness and relatively low cost of these elements . The synthesis and construction of the effective synchronous generator and turbine controller is a very difficult task . This paper describes the seven step mu - synthesis approach to PSS design enabling the synchronous generator to remain stable over a wide range of system operating conditions

B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

synchronous generator control system synthesis


Prospective on computer applications in power The so-called `` deregulation '' and restructuring of the electric power industry have made it very difficult to keep up with industry changes and have made it much more difficult to envision the future . In this article , current key issues and major developments of the past few years are reviewed to provide perspective , and prospects for future computer applications in power are suggested . Technology changes are occurring at an exponential rate . The interconnected bulk electric systems are becoming integrated with vast networked information systems . This article discusses the skills that will be needed by future power engineers to keep pace with these developments and trends

O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

computer applications
technology changes
interconnected bulk electric systems
networked information systems

electric power industry deregulation
electricity industry restructuring


Recording quantum properties of light in a long-lived atomic spin state : towards quantum memory We report an experiment on mapping a quantum state of light onto the ground state spin of an ensemble of Cs atoms with the lifetime of 2 ms. Recording of one of the two quadrature phase operators of light is demonstrated with vacuum and squeezed states of light . The sensitivity of the mapping procedure at the level of approximately 1 photon/sec per Hz is shown . The results pave the road towards complete -LRB- storing both quadrature phase observables -RRB- quantum memory for Gaussian states of light . The experiment also sheds new light on fundamental limits of sensitivity of the magneto-optical resonance method

O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O B O B O O O O O B I O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I

quantum memory
ground state spin
ensemble
two quadrature phase operators
squeezed states
mapping procedure
magnetooptical resonance method
2 ms
cs

light quantum properties recording
long-lived atomic spin state
vacuum states


Lossy to lossless object-based coding of 3-D MRI data We propose a fully three-dimensional -LRB- 3-D -RRB- object-based coding system exploiting the diagnostic relevance of the different regions of the volumetric data for rate allocation . The data are first decorrelated via a 3-D discrete wavelet transform . The implementation via the lifting steps scheme allows to map integer-to-integer values , enabling lossless coding , and facilitates the definition of the object-based inverse transform . The coding process assigns disjoint segments of the bitstream to the different objects , which can be independently accessed and reconstructed at any up-to-lossless quality . Two fully 3-D coding strategies are considered : embedded zerotree coding -LRB- EZW-3D -RRB- and multidimensional layered zero coding -LRB- MLZC -RRB- , both generalized for region of interest -LRB- ROI -RRB- - based processing . In order to avoid artifacts along region boundaries , some extra coefficients must be encoded for each object . This gives rise to an overheading of the bitstream with respect to the case where the volume is encoded as a whole . The amount of such extra information depends on both the filter length and the decomposition depth . The system is characterized on a set of head magnetic resonance images . Results show that MLZC and EZW-3D have competitive performances . In particular , the best MLZC mode outperforms the others state-of-the-art techniques on one of the datasets for which results are available in the literature

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

diagnostic relevance
volumetric data
rate allocation
lifting steps scheme
disjoint segments
bitstream
embedded zerotree coding
multidimensional layered zero coding
region boundaries
filter length
decomposition depth
head magnetic resonance images

lossy object-based coding
lossless object-based coding
3-d mri data
3-d discrete wavelet transform
integer-to-integer values
object-based inverse transform
ezw-3d
nmzq
region of interest-based processing
roi-based processing


Mixture of experts classification using a hierarchical mixture model A three-level hierarchical mixture model for classification is presented that models the following data generation process : -LRB- 1 -RRB- the data are generated by a finite number of sources -LRB- clusters -RRB- , and -LRB- 2 -RRB- the generation mechanism of each source assumes the existence of individual internal class-labeled sources -LRB- subclusters of the external cluster -RRB- . The model estimates the posterior probability of class membership similar to a mixture of experts classifier . In order to learn the parameters of the model , we have developed a general training approach based on maximum likelihood that results in two efficient training algorithms . Compared to other classification mixture models , the proposed hierarchical model exhibits several advantages and provides improved classification performance as indicated by the experimental results

O O O B O O B I I O O B I I O B O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O


Geometrically invariant watermarking using feature points This paper presents a new approach for watermarking of digital images providing robustness to geometrical distortions . The weaknesses of classical watermarking methods to geometrical distortions are outlined first . Geometrical distortions can be decomposed into two classes : global transformations such as rotations and translations and local transformations such as the StirMark attack . An overview of existing self-synchronizing schemes is then presented . Theses schemes can use periodical properties of the mark , invariant properties of transforms , template insertion , or information provided by the original image to counter geometrical distortions . Thereafter , a new class of watermarking schemes using the image content is presented . We propose an embedding and detection scheme where the mark is bound with a content descriptor defined by salient points . Three different types of feature points are studied and their robustness to geometrical transformations is evaluated to develop an enhanced detector . The embedding of the signature is done by extracting feature points of the image and performing a Delaunay tessellation on the set of points . The mark is embedded using a classical additive scheme inside each triangle of the tessellation . The detection is done using correlation properties on the different triangles . The performance of the presented scheme is evaluated after JPEG compression , geometrical attack and transformations . Results show that the fact that the scheme is robust to these different manipulations . Finally , in our concluding remarks , we analyze the different perspectives of such content-based watermarking scheme

B I I O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O B O B O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

geometrically invariant watermarking
feature points
digital images
geometrical distortions
global transformations
rotations
translations
local transformations
stirmark attack
periodical properties
invariant properties
transforms
template insertion
image content
embedding
detection scheme
content descriptor
delaunay tessellation
additive scheme
correlation properties
jpeg compression
geometrical attack

self-synchronizing schemes
feature extraction


Integration is key - an introduction to enterprise application integration -LRB- EAI -RRB- technology Over the past few years , numerous organisations have invested in the latest software applications to drive their business forward . But many are now finding that these systems are becoming redundant on their own . The key to staying ahead of the competition in today 's current climate is now to integrate all of these systems , says Justin Opie , Portfolio Director at Imark Communications

O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

enterprise application integration
imark communications


Real-time implementation of a new low-memory SPIHT image coding algorithm using DSP chip Among all algorithms based on wavelet transform and zerotree quantization , Said and Pearlman 's -LRB- 1996 -RRB- set partitioning in hierarchical trees -LRB- SPIHT -RRB- algorithm is well-known for its simplicity and efficiency . This paper deals with the real-time implementation of SPIHT algorithm using DSP chip . In order to facilitate the implementation and improve the codec 's performance , some relative issues are thoroughly discussed , such as the optimization of program structure to speed up the wavelet decomposition . SPIHT 's high memory requirement is a major drawback for hardware implementation . In this paper , we modify the original SPIHT algorithm by presenting two new concepts-number of error bits and absolute zerotree . Consequently , the memory cost is significantly reduced . We also introduce a new method to control the coding process by number of error bits . Our experimental results show that the implementation meets common requirement of real-time video coding and is proven to be a practical and efficient DSP solution

O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O

spiht algorithm
wavelet transform
zerotree quantization
codec
wavelet decomposition
number of error bits
absolute zerotree
dsp chip
set partitioning in hierarchical trees
video coding

real-time implementation
memory cost reduction


Dynamical transition to periodic motions of a recurrent bus induced by nonstops We study the dynamical behavior of a recurrent bus on a circular route with many bus stops when the recurrent bus passes some bus stops without stopping . The recurrent time -LRB- one period -RRB- is described in terms of a nonlinear map . It is shown that the recurrent bus exhibits the complex periodic behaviors . The dynamical transitions to periodic motions occur by increasing nonstops . The periodic motions depend on the property of an attractor of the nonlinear map . The period n of the attractor varies sensitively with the number of nonstops

B I O B I O O B I O O B O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O B I O O O B O O B I O O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O B O O O O O O B

dynamical transition
periodic motions
recurrent bus
nonstops
circular route
recurrent time
nonlinear map
complex periodic behaviors
attractor


Performance comparison between PID and dead-time compensating controllers This paper is intended to answer the question : `` When can a simple dead-time compensator be expected to perform better than a PID ? '' . The performance criterion used is the integrated absolute error -LRB- IAE -RRB- . It is compared for PI and PID controllers and a simple dead-time compensator -LRB- DTC -RRB- when a step load disturbance is applied at the plant input . Both stable and integrating processes are considered . For a fair comparison the controllers should provide equal robustness in some sense . Here , as a measure of robustness , the H/sub infinity / norm of the sum of the absolute values of the sensitivity function and the complementary sensitivity function is used . Performance of the DTC 's is given also as a function of dead-time margin -LRB- D/sub M / -RRB-

B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O B O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

performance comparison
pid controllers
performance criterion
integrated absolute error
iae
dtc
step load disturbance
integrating processes
equal robustness
complementary sensitivity function

absolute value sum h/sub infinity / norm


Efficient computation of local geometric moments Local moments have attracted attention as local features in applications such as edge detection and texture segmentation . The main reason for this is that they are inherently integral-based features , so that their use reduces the effect of uncorrelated noise . The computation of local moments , when viewed as a neighborhood operation , can be interpreted as a convolution of the image with a set of masks . Nevertheless , moments computed inside overlapping windows are not independent and convolution does not take this fact into account . By introducing a matrix formulation and the concept of accumulation moments , this paper presents an algorithm which is computationally much more efficient than convolving and yet as simple

O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

local features
edge detection
texture segmentation
neighborhood operation
overlapping windows
matrix formulation
accumulation moments

local geometric moments computation
integral-based features
image convolution
computationally efficient algorithm
image analysis


Adaptive state feedback control for a class of linear systems with unknown bounds of uncertainties The problem of adaptive robust stabilization for a class of linear time-varying systems with disturbance and nonlinear uncertainties is considered . The bounds of the disturbance and uncertainties are assumed to be unknown , being even arbitrary . For such uncertain dynamical systems , the adaptive robust state feedback controller is obtained . And the resulting closed-loop systems are asymptotically stable in theory . Moreover , an adaptive robust state feedback control scheme is given . The scheme ensures the closed-loop systems exponentially practically stable and can be used in practical engineering . Finally , simulations show that the control scheme is effective

O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

robust stabilization
nonlinear uncertainties
uncertain dynamical systems
state feedback

adaptive stabilization
linear time-varying systems
closed-loop systems
adaptive controller
robust control
uncertain systems


A framework for evaluating the data-hiding capacity of image sources An information-theoretic model for image watermarking and data hiding is presented in this paper . Previous theoretical results are used to characterize the fundamental capacity limits of image watermarking and data-hiding systems . Capacity is determined by the statistical model used for the host image , by the distortion constraints on the data hider and the attacker , and by the information available to the data hider , to the attacker , and to the decoder . We consider autoregressive , block-DCT , and wavelet statistical models for images and compute data-hiding capacity for compressed and uncompressed host-image sources . Closed-form expressions are obtained under sparse-model approximations . Models for geometric attacks and distortion measures that are invariant to such attacks are considered

O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O

image sources
watermarking
capacity limits
statistical model
distortion constraints
wavelet statistical models
geometric attacks
distortion measures

data-hiding capacity
information-theoretic model
autoregressive statistical models
block-dct statistical models
compressed host-image sources
uncompressed host-image sources
closed-form expressions
sparse-model approximations


A new subspace identification approach based on principal component analysis Principal component analysis -LRB- PCA -RRB- has been widely used for monitoring complex industrial processes with multiple variables and diagnosing process and sensor faults . The objective of this paper is to develop a new subspace identification algorithm that gives consistent model estimates under the errors-in-variables -LRB- EIV -RRB- situation . In this paper , we propose a new subspace identification approach using principal component analysis . PCA naturally falls into the category of EIV formulation , which resembles total least squares and allows for errors in both process input and output . We propose to use PCA to determine the system observability subspace , the matrices and the system order for an EIV formulation . Standard PCA is modified with instrumental variables in order to achieve consistent estimates of the system matrices . The proposed subspace identification method is demonstrated using a simulated process and a real industrial process for model identification and order determination . For comparison the MOESP algorithm and N4SID algorithm are used as benchmarks to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed PCA based subspace model identification -LRB- SMI -RRB- algorithm

O O B I I O O B I I B I I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I I O B O O

subspace identification approach
principal component analysis
pca
system observability subspace
moesp algorithm
n4sid algorithm
subspace model identification
smi

complex industrial process monitoring
process fault diagnosis
sensor fault diagnosis
errors-in-variables situation
eiv situation
total least-squares approximation
consistent system matrix estimates


The influence of tollbooths on highway traffic We study the effects of tollbooths on the traffic flow . The highway traffic is simulated by the Nagel-Schreckenberg model . Various types of toll collection are examined , which can be characterized either by a waiting time or a reduced speed . A first-order phase transition is observed . The phase separation results a saturated flow , which is observed as a plateau region in the fundamental diagram . The effects of lane expansion near the tollbooth are examined . The full capacity of a highway can be restored . The emergence of vehicle queuing is studied . Besides the numerical results , we also obtain analytical expressions for various quantities . The numerical simulations can be well described by the analytical formulas . We also discuss the influence on the travel time and its variance . The tollbooth increases the travel time but decreases its variance . The differences between long - and short-distance travelers are also discussed

O O O B O B I O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

highway traffic
tollbooths
toll collection
waiting time
reduced speed
saturated flow
lane expansion
vehicle queuing
numerical simulations

nagel-schreckenberg model
first-order phase transition


The Bagsik Oscillator without complex numbers We argue that the analysis of the so-called Bagsik Oscillator , recently published by Piotrowski and Sladkowski -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , is erroneous due to : -LRB- 1 -RRB- the incorrect banking data used and -LRB- 2 -RRB- the application of statistical mechanism apparatus to processes that are totally deterministic

O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O

bagsik oscillator
incorrect banking data
statistical mechanism apparatus

noncomplex numbers
game theory
deterministic processes


Adaptive image denoising using scale and space consistency This paper proposes a new method for image denoising with edge preservation , based on image multiresolution decomposition by a redundant wavelet transform . In our approach , edges are implicitly located and preserved in the wavelet domain , whilst image noise is filtered out . At each resolution level , the image edges are estimated by gradient magnitudes -LRB- obtained from the wavelet coefficients -RRB- , which are modeled probabilistically , and a shrinkage function is assembled based on the model obtained . Joint use of space and scale consistency is applied for better preservation of edges . The shrinkage functions are combined to preserve edges that appear simultaneously at several resolutions , and geometric constraints are applied to preserve edges that are not isolated . The proposed technique produces a filtered version of the original image , where homogeneous regions appear separated by well-defined edges . Possible applications include image presegmentation , and image denoising

B I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

adaptive image denoising
scale consistency
space consistency
edge preservation
image multiresolution decomposition
redundant wavelet transform
image edges
gradient magnitudes
shrinkage function
geometric constraints


Verifying resonant grounding in distribution systems The authors describe RESFAL , a software tool that can check on the behavior of distribution network resonant grounding systems with regard to compensation coil tuning and to fault detection

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I I O O B I

resonant grounding systems
compensation coil tuning
fault detection

resfal software tool
computer simulation
power distribution systems


The two populations ' cellular automata model with predation based on the Penna model In Penna 's -LRB- 1995 -RRB- single-species asexual bit-string model of biological ageing , the Verhulst factor has too strong a restraining effect on the development of the population . Danuta Makowiec gave an improved model based on the lattice , where the restraining factor of the four neighbours take the place of the Verhulst factor . Here , we discuss the two populations ' Penna model with predation on the planar lattice of two dimensions . A cellular automata model containing movable wolves and sheep has been built . The results show that both the quantity of the wolves and the sheep fluctuate in accordance with the law that one quantity increases while the other one decreases

O O O O B I I O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O B O O O O O B I I O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

cellular automata model
population
penna model
biological ageing
verhulst factor
restraining effect
lattice
wolves
sheep
predation

single-species asexual bit-string model
fluctuation
lotka-volterra model


Combining spatial and scale-space techniques for edge detection to provide a spatially adaptive wavelet-based noise filtering algorithm New methods for detecting edges in an image using spatial and scale-space domains are proposed . A priori knowledge about geometrical characteristics of edges is used to assign a probability factor to the chance of any pixel being on an edge . An improved double thresholding technique is introduced for spatial domain filtering . Probabilities that pixels belong to a given edge are assigned based on pixel similarity across gradient amplitudes , gradient phases and edge connectivity . The scale-space approach uses dynamic range compression to allow wavelet correlation over a wider range of scales . A probabilistic formulation is used to combine the results obtained from filtering in each domain to provide a final edge probability image which has the advantages of both spatial and scale-space domain methods . Decomposing this edge probability image with the same wavelet as the original image permits the generation of adaptive filters that can recognize the characteristics of the edges in all wavelet detail and approximation images regardless of scale . These matched filters permit significant reduction in image noise without contributing to edge distortion . The spatially adaptive wavelet noise-filtering algorithm is qualitatively and quantitatively compared to a frequency domain and two wavelet based noise suppression algorithms using both natural and computer generated noisy images

O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O B I O B I O O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O

edge detection
a priori knowledge
geometrical characteristics
probability factor
double thresholding technique
spatial domain filtering
pixel similarity
gradient amplitudes
gradient phases
edge connectivity
dynamic range compression
wavelet correlation
probabilistic formulation
final edge probability image
adaptive filters
approximation images
matched filters
image noise
noise suppression


Deriving model parameters from field test measurements -LSB- generator control simulation -RSB- A major component of any power system simulation is the generating plant . The purpose of DeriveAssist is to speed up the parameter derivation process and to allow engineers less versed in parameter matching and identification to get involved in the process of power plant electric generator modelling

O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

deriveassist
parameter derivation process
parameter matching
power system simulation
control simulation

parameter identification
turbine/governor
power system stability analysis
computer simulation
generator parameter derivation process
steady-state parameters derivation


Modeling self-consistent multi-class dynamic traffic flow In this study , we present a systematic self-consistent multiclass multilane traffic model derived from the vehicular Boltzmann equation and the traffic dispersion model . The multilane domain is considered as a two-dimensional space and the interaction among vehicles in the domain is described by a dispersion model . The reason we consider a multilane domain as a two-dimensional space is that the driving behavior of road users may not be restricted by lanes , especially motorcyclists . The dispersion model , which is a nonlinear Poisson equation , is derived from the car-following theory and the equilibrium assumption . Under the concept that all kinds of users share the finite section , the density is distributed on a road by the dispersion model . In addition , the dynamic evolution of the traffic flow is determined by the systematic gas-kinetic model derived from the Boltzmann equation . Multiplying Boltzmann equation by the zeroth , first - and second-order moment functions , integrating both side of the equation and using chain rules , we can derive continuity , motion and variance equation , respectively . However , the second-order moment function , which is the square of the individual velocity , is employed by previous researches does not have physical meaning in traffic flow

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

multilane traffic model
vehicular boltzmann equation
traffic dispersion model
road users
nonlinear poisson equation
dynamic evolution
variance equation

self-consistent multiclass dynamic traffic flow modeling


New paradigms for interactive 3D volume segmentation We present a new virtual reality-based interaction metaphor for semi-automatic segmentation of medical 3D volume data . The mouse-based , manual initialization of deformable surfaces in 3D represents a major bottleneck in interactive segmentation . In our multi-modal system we enhance this process with additional sensory feedback . A 3D haptic device is used to extract the centreline of a tubular structure . Based on the obtained path a cylinder with varying diameter is generated , which in turn is used as the initial guess for a deformable surface

O O O B I I I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

interactive 3d volume segmentation
interaction metaphor
deformable surfaces
interactive segmentation
sensory feedback
3d haptic device
tubular structure
deformable surface

virtual reality
medical image segmentation
mouse
multi-modal system
varying diameter cylinder
haptic interaction


Multilayered image representation : application to image compression The main contribution of this work is a new paradigm for image representation and image compression . We describe a new multilayered representation technique for images . An image is parsed into a superposition of coherent layers : piecewise smooth regions layer , textures layer , etc. . The multilayered decomposition algorithm consists in a cascade of compressions applied successively to the image itself and to the residuals that resulted from the previous compressions . During each iteration of the algorithm , we code the residual part in a lossy way : we only retain the most significant structures of the residual part , which results in a sparse representation . Each layer is encoded independently with a different transform , or basis , at a different bitrate , and the combination of the compressed layers can always be reconstructed in a meaningful way . The strength of the multilayer approach comes from the fact that different sets of basis functions complement each others : some of the basis functions will give reasonable account of the large trend of the data , while others will catch the local transients , or the oscillatory patterns . This multilayered representation has a lot of beautiful applications in image understanding , and image and video coding . We have implemented the algorithm and we have studied its capabilities

O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O B I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

image compression
multilayered representation
image representation
piecewise smooth regions layer
textures layer
multilayered decomposition algorithm
residual part
sparse representation
basis functions

wavelet transforms
cosine transforms
transform coding


Nonlinear modeling and adaptive fuzzy control of MCFC stack To improve availability and performance of fuel cells , the operating temperature of the molten carbonate fuel cells -LRB- MCFC -RRB- stack should be controlled within a specified range . However , most existing models of MCFC are not ready to be applied in synthesis . In the paper , a radial basis function neural networks identification model of a MCFC stack is developed based on the input-output sampled data . An adaptive fuzzy control procedure for the temperature of the MCFC stack is also developed . The parameters of the fuzzy control system are regulated by back-propagation algorithm , and the rule database of the fuzzy system is also adaptively adjusted by the nearest-neighbor-clustering algorithm . Finally using the neural networks model of MCFC stack , the simulation results of the control algorithm are presented . The results show the effectiveness of the proposed modeling and design procedures for the MCFC stack based on neural networks identification and the novel adaptive fuzzy control

B I O B I I O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I I I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I I

molten carbonate fuel cells stack
input-output sampled data
nearest-neighbor-clustering algorithm


Streaming , disruptive interference and power-law behavior in the exit dynamics of confined pedestrians We analyze the exit dynamics of pedestrians who are initially confined in a room . Pedestrians are modeled as cellular automata and compete to escape via a known exit at the soonest possible time . A pedestrian could move forward , backward , left or right within each iteration time depending on adjacent cell vacancy and in accordance with simple rules that determine the compulsion to move and physical capability relative to his neighbors . The arching signatures of jamming were observed and the pedestrians exited in bursts of various sizes . Power-law behavior is found in the burst-size frequency distribution for exit widths w greater than one cell dimension -LRB- w > 1 -RRB- . The slope of the power-law curve varies with w from -1.3092 -LRB- w = 2 -RRB- to -1.0720 -LRB- w = 20 -RRB- . Streaming which is a diffusive behavior , arises in large burst sizes and is more likely in a single-exit room with w = 1 and leads to a counterintuitive result wherein an average exit throughput Q is obtained that is higher than with w = 2 , 3 , or 4 . For a two-exit room -LRB- w = 1 -RRB- , Q is not greater than twice the yield of a single-exit room . If the doors are not separated far enough -LRB- < 4w -RRB- , Q becomes even significantly less due to a collective slow-down that emerges among pedestrians crossing in each other 's path -LRB- disruptive interference effect -RRB- . For the same w and door number , Q is also higher with relaxed pedestrians than with anxious ones

B O B I O O O O O B I O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

streaming
cellular automata
iteration time
adjacent cell vacancy
arching signatures
jamming
disruptive interference
exit dynamics
confined pedestrians

burst-size frequency distribution
collective slow-down
self-organised criticality
power-law behavior


Stock market dynamics We elucidate on several empirical statistical observations of stock market returns . Moreover , we find that these properties are recurrent and are also present in invariant measures of low-dimensional dynamical systems . Thus , we propose that the returns are modeled by the first Poincare return time of a low-dimensional chaotic trajectory . This modeling , which captures the recurrent properties of the return fluctuations , is able to predict well the evolution of the observed statistical quantities . In addition , it explains the reason for which stocks present simultaneously dynamical properties and high uncertainties . In our analysis , we use data from the S&P 500 index and the Brazilian stock Telebras

O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O

stock market returns
empirical statistical observations
invariant measures
first poincare return time
statistical quantities
brazilian stock

low-dimensional dynamical systems
low-dimensional chaotic trajectory
econophysics


Antipersistent Markov behavior in foreign exchange markets A quantitative check of efficiency in US dollar/Deutsche mark exchange rates is developed using high-frequency -LRB- tick by tick -RRB- data . The antipersistent Markov behavior of log-price fluctuations of given size implies , in principle , the possibility of a statistical forecast . We introduce and measure the available information of the quote sequence , and we show how it can be profitable following a particular trading rule

B I I O B I I O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I

antipersistent markov behavior
foreign exchange markets
efficiency
exchange rates
statistical forecast
quote sequence
trading rule

us dollar
deutsche mark
high-frequency data
log-price fluctuations
shannon entropy
forecasting


Generalized predictive control for non-uniformly sampled systems In this paper , we study digital control systems with non-uniform updating and sampling patterns , which include multirate sampled-data systems as special cases . We derive lifted models in the state-space domain . The main obstacle for generalized predictive control -LRB- GPC -RRB- design using the lifted models is the so-called causality constraint . Taking into account this design constraint , we propose a new GPC algorithm , which results in optimal causal control laws for the non-uniformly sampled systems . The solution applies immediately to multirate sampled-data systems where rates are integer multiples of some base period

O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O

nonuniformly sampled systems
digital control systems
gpc
causality constraint
optimal causal control laws
integer multiples

generalized predictive control design
nonuniform updating patterns
nonuniform sampling patterns
multirate sampled-data systems
state-space models


Comprehensive encoding and decoupling solution to problems of decoherence and design in solid-state quantum computing Proposals for scalable quantum computing devices suffer not only from decoherence due to the interaction with their environment , but also from severe engineering constraints . Here we introduce a practical solution to these major concerns , addressing solid-state proposals in particular . Decoherence is first reduced by encoding a logical qubit into two qubits , then completely eliminated by an efficient set of decoupling pulse sequences . The same encoding removes the need for single-qubit operations , which pose a difficult design constraint . We further show how the dominant decoherence processes can be identified empirically , in order to optimize the decoupling pulses

O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O

decoherence
engineering constraints
scalable quantum computing devices

solid-state quantum computing
logical qubit encoding
pulse sequence decoupling
decoupling pulse optimization
exchange hamiltonian


Phase control of higher-order squeezing of a quantum field In a recent experiment -LSB- Phys . Rev. Lett . 88 -LRB- 2002 -RRB- 023601 -RSB- , phase-dependent photon statistics in a c.w. system has been observed in the mixing of a coherent field with a two-photon source . Their system has the advantage over other atomic transition-based fluorescent systems . In this paper , we examine further the squeezing properties of higher-order quantum fluctuations in one of the quadrature components of the combined field in this system . We demonstrate that efficient and lasting higher-order squeezing effects could be observed with proper choice of the relative phase between the pump and coherent fields . This nonclassical feature is attributed to a constructive two-photon interference . Relationship between the second - and higher-order squeezing of the field is discussed

B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

phase control
quantum field
quantum fluctuations


Estimating long-range dependence : finite sample properties and confidence intervals A major issue in financial economics is the behavior of asset returns over long horizons . Various estimators of long-range dependence have been proposed . Even though some have known asymptotic properties , it is important to test their accuracy by using simulated series of different lengths . We test R/S analysis , detrended fluctuation analysis and periodogram regression methods on samples drawn from Gaussian white noise . The DFA statistics turns out to be the unanimous winner . Unfortunately , no asymptotic distribution theory has been derived for this statistics so far . We were able , however , to construct empirical -LRB- i.e. approximate -RRB- confidence intervals for all three methods . The obtained values differ largely from heuristic values proposed by some authors for the R/S statistics and are very close to asymptotic values for the periodogram regression method

O O O O B I I O B I O O O O B I O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

finite sample properties
confidence intervals
financial economics
asset returns
long horizons
asymptotic properties
detrended fluctuation analysis
periodogram regression methods
gaussian white noise
heuristic values


Computational capacity of an odorant discriminator : the linear separability of curves We introduce and study an artificial neural network inspired by the probabilistic receptor affinity distribution model of olfaction . Our system consists of N sensory neurons whose outputs converge on a single processing linear threshold element . The system 's aim is to model discrimination of a single target odorant from a large number p of background odorants within a range of odorant concentrations . We show that this is possible provided p does not exceed a critical value p/sub c / and calculate the critical capacity alpha c =p / sub c / / N . The critical capacity depends on the range of concentrations in which the discrimination is to be accomplished . If the olfactory bulb may be thought of as a collection of such processing elements , each responsible for the discrimination of a single odorant , our study provides a quantitative analysis of the potential computational properties of the olfactory bulb . The mathematical formulation of the problem we consider is one of determining the capacity for linear separability of continuous curves , embedded in a large-dimensional space . This is accomplished here by a numerical study , using a method that signals whether the discrimination task is realizable , together with a finite-size scaling analysis

O O O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B I I O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

artificial neural network
receptor affinity distribution
olfaction
linear threshold element
sensory neurons
linear separability
odorant discriminator


Waiting for the wave to crest -LSB- wavelength services -RSB- Wavelength services have been hyped ad nauseam for years . But despite their quick turn-up time and impressive margins , such services have yet to live up to the industry 's expectations . The reasons for this lukewarm reception are many , not the least of which is the confusion that still surrounds the technology , but most industry observers are still convinced that wavelength services with ultimately flourish

O O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O

fiber optic networks
looking glass networks
pointeast research


Social percolation and the influence of mass media In the marketing model of Solomon and Weisbuch , people buy a product only if their neighbours tell them of its quality , and if this quality is higher than their own quality expectations . Now we introduce additional information from the mass media , which is analogous to the ghost field in percolation theory . The mass media shift the percolative phase transition observed in the model , and decrease the time after which the stationary state is reached

B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O

social percolation
quality expectations
ghost field
percolative phase transition
stationary state

mass media influence
solomon-weisbuch marketing model
customers
cinema
external field


Quantum market games We propose a quantum-like description of markets and economics . The approach has roots in the recently developed quantum game theory

B I I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I I

quantum market games
economics
quantum game theory


Electrical facility construction work for information network structuring by the use of sewage conduits To confront the advent of the advanced information society , there has been a pressing demand for the adjustment of the communications infrastructure and the structuring of the information network by utilizing the sewage conduits . The City of Tokyo is promoting a project by the name of the sewer optical fiber teleway -LRB- SOFT -RRB- network plan . According to this plan , the total distance of the optical fiber network laid in the sewer conduits is scheduled to reach about 470 km by the end of March 2000 . At the final stage , this distance will reach 800 km as a whole . We completed the construction work for the information control facilities scattered in 11 places inclusive of the Treatment Site S , with the intention to adjust and extend the information transmission network laid through the above-mentioned optical fiber network , to be used exclusively by the Bureau of Sewerage . This construction work is described in the paper

B I I I O B I I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O

electrical facility construction work
information network structuring
sewage conduits
communications infrastructure
tokyo
information control facilities
treatment site s
information transmission network
bureau of sewerage

sewer optical fiber teleway network plan


A friction compensator for pneumatic control valves A procedure that compensates for static friction -LRB- stiction -RRB- in pneumatic control valves is presented . The compensation is obtained by adding pulses to the control signal . The characteristics of the pulses are determined from the control action . The compensator is implemented in industrial controllers and control systems , and the industrial experiences show that the procedure reduces the control error during stick-slip motion significantly compared to standard control without stiction compensation

O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I

friction compensator
pneumatic control valves
stiction compensation
industrial controllers
standard control

static friction compensation
control error reduction
stick-slip motion


Quality image metrics for synthetic images based on perceptual color differences Due to the improvement of image rendering processes , and the increasing importance of quantitative comparisons among synthetic color images , it is essential to define perceptually based metrics which enable to objectively assess the visual quality of digital simulations . In response to this need , this paper proposes a new methodology for the determination of an objective image quality metric , and gives an answer to this problem through three metrics . This methodology is based on the LLAB color space for perception of color in complex images , a modification of the CIELab1976 color space . The first metric proposed is a pixel by pixel metric which introduces a local distance map between two images . The second metric associates , to a pair of images , a global value . Finally , the third metric uses a recursive subdivision of the images to obtain an adaptative distance map , rougher but less expensive to compute than the first method

B I I O B I O O B I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I I I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O

quality image metrics
synthetic images
perceptual color differences
image rendering
color images
perceptually based metrics
visual quality
digital simulations
llab color space
cielab1976 color space
pixel by pixel metric
local distance map
global value
recursive subdivision
adaptative distance map


Color plane interpolation using alternating projections Most commercial digital cameras use color filter arrays to sample red , green , and blue colors according to a specific pattern . At the location of each pixel only one color sample is taken , and the values of the other colors must be interpolated using neighboring samples . This color plane interpolation is known as demosaicing ; it is one of the important tasks in a digital camera pipeline . If demosaicing is not performed appropriately , images suffer from highly visible color artifacts . In this paper we present a new demosaicing technique that uses inter-channel correlation effectively in an alternating-projections scheme . We have compared this technique with six state-of-the-art demosaicing techniques , and it outperforms all of them , both visually and in terms of mean square error

B I I O B I O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

color plane interpolation
alternating projections
digital cameras
demosaicing
color filter arrays
color artifacts


On optimality in auditory information processing We study limits for the detection and estimation of weak sinusoidal signals in the primary part of the mammalian auditory system using a stochastic Fitzhugh-Nagumo model and an action-recovery model for synaptic depression . Our overall model covers the chain from a hair cell to a point just after the synaptic connection with a cell in the cochlear nucleus . The information processing performance of the system is evaluated using so-called phi - divergences from statistics that quantify `` dissimilarity '' between probability measures and are intimately related to a number of fundamental limits in statistics and information theory -LRB- IT -RRB- . We show that there exists a set of parameters that can optimize several important phi - divergences simultaneously and that this set corresponds to a constant quiescent firing rate -LRB- QFR -RRB- of the spiral ganglion neuron . The optimal value of the QFR is frequency dependent but is essentially independent of the amplitude of the signal -LRB- for small amplitudes -RRB- . Consequently , optimal processing according to several standard IT criteria can be accomplished for this model if and only if the parameters are `` tuned '' to values that correspond to one and the same QFR . This offers a new explanation for the QFR and can provide new insight into the role played by several other parameters of the peripheral auditory system

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I

weak sinusoidal signals
mammalian auditory system
peripheral auditory system
quiescent firing rate
spiral ganglion neuron

stochastic fitzhugh-nagumo model
action-recovery model
brain


Exact controllability of shells in minimal time We prove an exact controllability result for thin cups using the Fourier method and recent improvements of Ingham -LRB- 1936 -RRB- type theorems

O B O B O B I O O O O B O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O

controllability
shells
minimal time
thin cups
fourier method

partial differential equations
young modulus
hilbert space
ingham type theorems


Preintegration lateral inhibition enhances unsupervised learning A large and influential class of neural network architectures uses postintegration lateral inhibition as a mechanism for competition . We argue that these algorithms are computationally deficient in that they fail to generate , or learn , appropriate perceptual representations under certain circumstances . An alternative neural network architecture is presented here in which nodes compete for the right to receive inputs rather than for the right to generate outputs . This form of competition , implemented through preintegration lateral inhibition , does provide appropriate coding properties and can be used to learn such representations efficiently . Furthermore , this architecture is consistent with both neuroanatomical and neuropsychological data . We thus argue that preintegration lateral inhibition has computational advantages over conventional neural network architectures while remaining equally biologically plausible

B I I O B I O O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O B I I O O O O O

neural network architectures
postintegration lateral inhibition
competition
preintegration lateral inhibition
neural network
unsupervised learning


Option pricing from path integral for non-Gaussian fluctuations . Natural martingale and application to truncated Levy distributions Within a path integral formalism for non-Gaussian price fluctuations , we set up a simple stochastic calculus and derive a natural martingale for option pricing from the wealth balance of options , stocks , and bonds . The resulting formula is evaluated for truncated Levy distributions

B I O O O O B I O B I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O B I O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B I I

option pricing
stochastic calculus
stocks
bonds
nongaussian fluctuations
natural martingale
truncated levy distributions


A comparison of computational color constancy algorithms . I : Methodology and experiments with synthesized data We introduce a context for testing computational color constancy , specify our approach to the implementation of a number of the leading algorithms , and report the results of three experiments using synthesized data . Experiments using synthesized data are important because the ground truth is known , possible confounds due to camera characterization and pre-processing are absent , and various factors affecting color constancy can be efficiently investigated because they can be manipulated individually and precisely . The algorithms chosen for close study include two gray world methods , a limiting case of a version of the Retinex method , a number of variants of Forsyth 's -LRB- 1990 -RRB- gamut-mapping method , Cardei et al. 's -LRB- 2000 -RRB- neural net method , and Finlayson et al. 's color by correlation method -LRB- Finlayson et al. 1997 , 2001 ; Hubel and Finlayson 2000 -RRB- . We investigate the ability of these algorithms to make estimates of three different color constancy quantities : the chromaticity of the scene illuminant , the overall magnitude of that illuminant , and a corrected , illumination invariant , image . We consider algorithm performance as a function of the number of surfaces in scenes generated from reflectance spectra , the relative effect on the algorithms of added specularities , and the effect of subsequent clipping of the data . All data is available on-line at http://www.cs.sfu.ca/~color/data , and implementations for most of the algorithms are also available -LRB- http://www.cs.sfu.ca/~color/code -RRB-

O O O B I I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

gamut-mapping method
illumination invariant image


eMarketing : restaurant Web sites that click A number of global companies have adopted electronic commerce as a means of reducing transaction related expenditures , connecting with current and potential customers , and enhancing revenues and profitability . If a restaurant is to have an Internet presence , what aspects of the business should be highlighted ? Food service companies that have successfully ventured onto the web have employed assorted web-based technologies to create a powerful marketing tool of unparalleled strength . Historically , it has been difficult to create a set of criteria against which to evaluate website effectiveness . As practitioners consider additional resources for website development , the effectiveness of e-marketing investment becomes increasingly important . Care must be exercised to ensure that the quality of the site adheres to high standards and incorporates evolving technology , as appropriate . Developing a coherent website strategy , including an effective website design , are proving critical to an effective web presence

O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

restaurant web sites
electronic commerce
internet presence
food service companies
revenues
profitability


Application of nonlinear time series analysis techniques to high-frequency currency exchange data In this work we have applied nonlinear time series analysis to high-frequency currency exchange data . The time series studied are the exchange rates between the US Dollar and 18 other foreign currencies from within and without the Euro zone . Our goal was to determine if their dynamical behaviours were in some way correlated . The nonexistence of stationarity called for the application of recurrence quantification analysis as a tool for this analysis , and is based on the definition of several parameters that allow for the quantification of recurrence plots . The method was checked using the European Monetary System currency exchanges . The results show , as expected , the high correlation between the currencies that are part of the Euro , but also a strong correlation between the Japanese Yen , the Canadian Dollar and the British Pound . Singularities of the series are also demonstrated taking into account historical events , in 1996 , in the Euro zone

O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I

nonlinear time series
exchange rates
us dollar
foreign currencies
euro zone
stationarity
recurrence quantification analysis
recurrence plots
european monetary system
japanese yen
canadian dollar
british pound
historical events

high-frequency currency exchange data
econophysics
nonlinear dynamics


Simulation of evacuation processes using a bionics-inspired cellular automaton model for pedestrian dynamics We present simulations of evacuation processes using a recently introduced cellular automaton model for pedestrian dynamics . This model applies a bionics approach to describe the interaction between the pedestrians using ideas from chemotaxis . Here we study a rather simple situation , namely the evacuation from a large room with one or two doors . It is shown that the variation of the model parameters allows to describe different types of behaviour , from regular to panic . We find a non-monotonic dependence of the evacuation times on the coupling constants . These times depend on the strength of the herding behaviour , with minimal evacuation times for some intermediate values of the couplings , i.e. , a proper combination of herding and use of knowledge about the shortest way to the exit

O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

chemotaxis
nonmonotonic dependence
coupling constants
herding behaviour
pedestrian dynamics


Power electronics spark new simulation challenges This article discusses some of the changes that have taken place in power systems and explores some of the inherent requirements for simulation technologies in order to keep up with this rapidly changing environment . The authors describe how energy utilities are realizing that , with the appropriate tools , they can train and sustain engineers who can maintain a great insight into system dynamics

B I O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

power electronics
simulation challenges
simulation technologies

power system computer simulation
electric utilities


Virus hunting We all appreciate the need for , and hopefully we have all deployed , anti-virus software . The good news is that AV software has come a long way fast . Four or so years ago it was true to write that AV software could not detect Trojan Horses and similar intrusion attempts . Now it can and does . McAfee 's VirusScan , for example , goes one further ; it detects viruses , worms and Trojan Horses and deploys itself as a firewall to filter data packets , control access to Internet resources , activate rule sets for specific applications , in general to protect against hackers . But like so much software , we use it with little thought as to how it came to do its job . Behind the scenes there is an army of top notch programmers trying to stay ahead of the baddies who , at the last count , had produced some 60,000 viruses

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O