Temporal constraint satisfaction in matrix method

Constraint satisfaction is a challenging problem in Interval Algebra (IA). So there are many efforts to attack this problem. After building a matrix method to deal with temporal reasoning problems, we develop basic techniques for applying the matrix method to constraint satisfaction in this paper. Thus, the propagating rules and the algorithms of 3- and path-consistency are studied. If our matrix method is used, then the temporal constraint satisfaction problem can be transformed into a problem that can be effectively solved.

Spectral element model updating for damage identification using clonal selection algorithm

A spectral element model updating procedure is presented to identify damage in a structure using Guided wave propagation results. Two damage spectral elements (DSE1 and DSE2) are developed to model the local (cracks in reinforcement bar) and global (debonding between reinforcement bar and concrete) damage in one-dimensional homogeneous and composite waveguide, respectively. Transfer matrix method is adopted to assemble the stiffness matrix of multiple spectral elements. In order to solve the inverse problem, clonal selection algorithm is used for the optimization calculations. Two displacement-based functions and two frequency-based functions are used as objective functions in this study. Numerical simulations of wave propagation in a bare steel bar and in a reinforcement bar without and with various assumed damage scenarios are carried out. Numerically simulated data are then used to identify local and global damage of the steel rebar and the concrete-steel interface using the proposed method. Results show that local damage is easy to be identified by using any considered objective function with the proposed method while only using the wavelet energy-based objective function gives reliable identification of global damage. The method is then extended to identify multiple damages in a structure. To further verify the proposed method, experiments of wave propagation in a rectangular steel bar before and after damage are conducted. The proposed method is used to update the structural model for damage identification. The results demonstrate the capability of the proposed method in identifying cracks in steel bars based on measured wave propagation data.

A second-order blind equalization method robust to ill-conditioned SIMO FIR channels

This paper deals with blind equalization of single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) finite-impulse-response (FIR) channels driven by i.i.d. signal, by exploiting the second-order statistics (SOS) of the channel outputs. Usually, SOS-based blind equalization is carried out via two stages. In Stage 1, the SIMO FIR channel is estimated using a blind identification method, such as the recently developed truncated transfer matrix (TTM) method. In Stage 2, an equalizer is derived from the estimate of the channel to recover the source signal. However, this type of two-stage approach does not give satisfactory blind equalization result if the channel is ill-conditioned, which is often encountered in practical applications. In this paper, we first show that the TTM method does not work in some situations. Then, we propose a novel SOS-based blind equalization method which can directly estimate the equalizer without knowing the channel impulse responses. The proposed method can obtain the desired equalizer even in the case that the channel is ill-conditioned. The performance of our method is illustrated by numerical simulations and compared with four benchmark methods. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Digital TV in Australia and the USA: a cross-impact analysis of the adoption and diffusion of digital TV in Australia and the United States

The paper examines the adoption and diffusion of Digital Television (DTV) in Australia and the United States, identifying historical, technical, regulatory, marketing, and other commonalities and differences that appear to be most significant to its adoption, as both countries have experienced a 'sluggish' diffusion and adoption of DTV so far. Using library research and borrowing the cross-impact matrix method from futures research, the authors develop J J events related to the various influences and groups of stakeholders that had shaped the policy making and adoption of DTV. We then carry out a comparative analysis between the two countries to make evident their impacts, strengths, and directions of influence. The authors suggest that the implementation of DTV in these two developed countries appears to be nearly identical. Even though Australian and US broadcasting models are fundamentally different, the diffusion process for DTV is primarily affected by the nature of digital technology and globalisation, two trends that may be diminishing the import of the nation-state in the technology adoption process. The paper concludes that these broader economic and technical events may have greater import to DTV's successful diffusion than do traditional, cultural, and nationalistic factors suggested in earlier comparative broadcast studies.

Nurses' Use of Computerized Clinical Guidelines to Improve Patient Safety in Hospitals.

Computerized clinical guidelines are frequently used to translate research into evidence-based behavioral practices and to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this integrative review is to summarize the factors influencing nurses' use of computerized clinical guidelines and the effects of nurses' use of computerized clinical guidelines on patient safety improvements in hospitals. The Embase, Medline Complete, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant literature published from 2000 to January 2013. The matrix method was used, and a total of 16 papers were included in the final review. The studies were assessed for quality with the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. The studies focused on nurses' adherence to guidelines and on improved patient care and patient outcomes as benefits of using computerized clinical guidelines. The nurses' use of computerized clinical guidelines demonstrated improvements in care processes; however, the evidence for an effect of computerized clinical guidelines on patient safety remains limited.

A method and its optimal parameters for the measurement of mass transfer coefficient in heat treatment furnaces

The mass transfer coefficient is an important kinetic factor to control the thermo-chemical treatment processes of metals and alloys. More importantly, the mass transfer coefficient is different at different surface positions of a metallic part treated, which depends on the dynamic characteristics of the atmosphere close to the treated surface. Understanding the local mass transfer coefficient would be significant to approach the expected physical and mechanical properties of treated surfaces. In this paper, a reverse method was proposed to measure the mass transfer coefficient at component surface and the diffusivity in metal during heat treatment. The methodology of the reverses method and the optimal parame-ters are discussed in some detail. This method was successfully used to determine the car-bon transfer coefficient at the surface of a part in a carburizing furnace and carbon diffusiv-ity from the carbon distribution within the diffusion layer.

A new method for deriving priority weights by extracting consistent numerical-valued matrices from interval-valued fuzzy judgement matrix

It is important to derive priority weights from interval-valued fuzzy preferences when a pairwise comparative mechanism is used. By focusing on the significance of consistency in the pairwise comparison matrix, two numerical-valued consistent comparison matrices are extracted from an interval fuzzy judgement matrix. Both consistent matrices are derived by solving the linear or nonlinear programming models with the aid of assessments from Decision Makers (DMs). An interval priority weight vector from the extracted consistent matrices is generated. In order to retain more information hidden in the intervals, a new probability-based method for comparison of the interval priority weights is introduced. An algorithm for deriving the final priority interval weights for both consistent and inconsistent interval matrices is proposed. The algorithm is also generalized to handle the pairwise comparison matrix with fuzzy numbers. The comparative results from the five examples reveal that the proposed method, as compared with eight existing methods, exhibits a smaller degree of uncertainty pertaining to the priority weights, and is also more reliable based on the similarity measure. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pd embedded in porous carbon (Pd@CMK-3) as an active catalyst for Suzuki reactions: accelerating mass transfer to enhance the reaction rate

Heterogeneous catalysts are promising candidates for use in organic reactions due to their advantages in separation, recovery, and environment compatibility. In this work, an active porous catalyst denoted as Pd embedded in porous carbon (Pd@CMK-3) has been prepared by a strategy involving immersion, ammoniahydrolysis, and heating procedures. Detailed characterization of the catalyst revealed that Pd(0) and Pd(II) species co-exist and were embedded in the matrix of the porous carbon (CMK-3). The as-prepared catalyst has shown high activity toward Suzuki reactions. Importantly, if the reaction mixture was homogenized by two minutes of ultrasonication rather than magnetic stirring before heating, the resistance to mass transfer in the pore channels was significantly reduced. As a result, the reactions proceeded more rapidly and a four-fold increase in the turnover frequency (TOF) could be obtained. When the ultrasonication was employed throughout the entire reaction process, the conversion could also exceed 90% even without the protection of inert gas, and although the reaction temperature was lowered to 30 °C. This work provides a method for fabricating highly active porous carbon encapsulated Pd catalysts for Suzuki reactions and proves that the problem of mass transfer in porous catalysts can be conveniently resolved by ultrasonication without any chemical modification being necessary.[Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2014 Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

JLMC: A clustering method based on Jordan-Form of Laplacian-Matrix

Among the current clustering algorithms of complex networks, Laplacian-based spectral clustering algorithms have the advantage of rigorous mathematical basis and high accuracy. However, their applications are limited due to their dependence on prior knowledge, such as the number of clusters. For most of application scenarios, it is hard to obtain the number of clusters beforehand. To address this problem, we propose a novel clustering algorithm - Jordan-Form of Laplacian-Matrix based Clustering algorithm (JLMC). In JLMC, we propose a model to calculate the number (n) of clusters in a complex network based on the Jordan-Form of its corresponding Laplacian matrix. JLMC clusters the network into n clusters by using our proposed modularity density function (P function). We conduct extensive experiments over real and synthetic data, and the experimental results reveal that JLMC can accurately obtain the number of clusters in a complex network, and outperforms Fast-Newman algorithm and Girvan-Newman algorithm in terms of clustering accuracy and time complexity.

A hybrid embedded cohesive element method for predicting matrix cracking in composites

The complex architecture of many fibre-reinforced composites makes the generation of finite element meshes a labour-intensive process. The embedded element method, which allows the matrix and fibre reinforcement to be meshed separately, offers a computationally efficient approach to reduce the time and cost of meshing. In this paper we present a new approach of introducing cohesive elements into the matrix domain to enable the prediction of matrix cracking using the embedded element method. To validate this approach, experiments were carried out using a modified Double Cantilever Beam with ply drops, with the results being compared with model predictions. Crack deflection was observed at the ply drop region, due to the differences in stiffness, strength and toughness at the bi-material interface. The new modelling technique yields accurate predictions of the failure process in composites, including fracture loads and crack deflection path.

Equal channel angular pressing of metal matrix composites: effect on particle distribution and fracture toughness

An Al6061-20%Al₂O₃ powder metallurgy (PM) metal matrix composite (MMC) with a strongly clustered particle distribution is subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at a temperature of 370 °C. The evolution of the homogeneity of the particle distribution in the material during ECAP is investigated by the quadrat method. The model proposed by Tan and Zhang [Mater Sci Eng 1998;244:80] for estimating the critical particle size which is required for a homogeneous particle distribution in PM MMCs is extended to the case of a combination of extrusion and ECAP. The applicability of the model to predict a homogeneity of the particle distribution after extrusion and ECAP is discussed. It is shown that ECAP leads to an increase of the  uniformity of the particle distribution and the fracture toughness.

Carburising and carbon transfer coefficient in a fluidised bed furnance

The carburising of a steel workpiece with complex geometry in a fluidised bed hasbeen studied experimentally. This involved carburising experiment in an electrically heated fluidised bed at 900 - 970°C with natural gas and air as the atmosphere. The carbon transfer coefficient at the workpiece surface and diffusivity within the workpiece were determined from the carbon distribution within the diffusion layer of the sample. A reverse method and the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm were used in the calculations. The methodology of the reverses method to extract the carbon transfer coefficient and diffusivity is also discussed in some detail.

Missionaries, music and method - dissemination of tonic sol-fa in Asia-Pacific countries during the nineteenth century

The Tonic Sol-fa method of teaching choral singing and its system of music notation was developed in England by John Curwen and propagated throughout the British Isles as a means of both enhancing Christian worship and achieving social reform. Tonic Sol-fa may be identified as an entirely foreign musical practice introduced to indigenous people in many British colonies and in other overseas countries during the nineteenth century as an instrument of Christian evangelism as well as of European cultural imposition. Nevertheless, indigenous communities were introduced to other aspects of European musical culture including a choral repertoire consisting of four-part hymnody and masterworks by Handel, Bach, Mozart, etc which sometimes resulted in the emergence of a school of indigenous composers writing in Tonic Sol-fa notation and using the tonal harmonic style. The result has been that in several countries-such as South Africa and Fiji for example-Tonic Sol-fa has been so fully assimilated into the ethnic culture that it has been "indigenized" and may now be said to represent a significant exogenous aspect of the musical culture in these countries.

Tonic Sol-fa was most commonly introduced to countries in the Asia-Pacific Region -as in Africa - by Christian missionaries who sought to exploit the attraction of hymns, particularly when sung in four-part harmony, as a means of evangelizing indigenous people who frequently regarded this aspect of missionary activity as a form of "magic". In particular, the Tonic Sol-fa method and notation gained a significant foothold in what were referred to as the South Sea Islands--especially in Fiji where today, the Fijian Hymn Book (1985 edition) is notated exclusively in Tonic Sol-fa. The vast majority of the Fijians are literate in Tonic Sol-fa notation and congregational singing in four parts is the norm in Fijian churches.

This paper will draw on data from nineteenth century journal sources, particularly The Tonic Sol-fa Reporter (1853-1888) and The Musical Herald (1889-1920), and will document the introduction and dissemination of Tonic Sol-fa in several Asia-Pacific countries where, unlike Australia and New Zealand, the indigenous population has maintained its own cultural and demographic predominance. Countries to be considered will include India, China (including Hong Kong), and Pacific Island nations. There will also be a consideration of the contemporary usage and applications of Tonic Sol-fa in the region, with specific reference to Fiji. It will be argued that countries where Tonic Sol-fa notation has become the norm should resist any external pressure to transfer to the standard staff notation merely for the sake of conformity. In the case of Fiji, almost universal music literacy has been achieved through Tonic Sol-fa and this should be recognized as an enviable social and cultural asset.