Kernel classifier construction using orthogonal forward selection and boosting with Fisher ratio class separability measure

A greedy technique is proposed to construct parsimonious kernel classifiers using the orthogonal forward selection method and boosting based on Fisher ratio for class separability measure. Unlike most kernel classification methods, which restrict kernel means to the training input data and use a fixed common variance for all the kernel terms, the proposed technique can tune both the mean vector and diagonal covariance matrix of individual kernel by incrementally maximizing Fisher ratio for class separability measure. An efficient weighted optimization method is developed based on boosting to append kernels one by one in an orthogonal forward selection procedure. Experimental results obtained using this construction technique demonstrate that it offers a viable alternative to the existing state-of-the-art kernel modeling methods for constructing sparse Gaussian radial basis function network classifiers. that generalize well.

On the utility of input selection and pruning for financial distress prediction models

Analyzes the use of linear and neural network models for financial distress classification, with emphasis on the issues of input variable selection and model pruning. A data-driven method for selecting input variables (financial ratios, in this case) is proposed. A case study involving 60 British firms in the period 1997-2000 is used for illustration. It is shown that the use of the Optimal Brain Damage pruning technique can considerably improve the generalization ability of a neural model. Moreover, the set of financial ratios obtained with the proposed selection procedure is shown to be an appropriate alternative to the ratios usually employed by practitioners.

Demand response experience in Europe: policies, programmes and implementation

Over the last few years, load growth, increases in intermittent generation, declining technology costs and increasing recognition of the importance of customer behaviour in energy markets have brought about a change in the focus of Demand Response (DR) in Europe. The long standing programmes involving large industries, through interruptible tariffs and time of day pricing, have been increasingly complemented by programmes aimed at commercial and residential customer groups. Developments in DR vary substantially across Europe reflecting national conditions and triggered by different sets of policies, programmes and implementation schemes. This paper examines experiences within European countries as well as at European Union (EU) level, with the aim of understanding which factors have facilitated or impeded advances in DR. It describes initiatives, studies and policies of various European countries, with in-depth case studies of the UK, Italy and Spain. It is concluded that while business programmes, technical and economic potentials vary across Europe, there are common reasons as to why coordinated DR policies have been slow to emerge. This is because of the limited knowledge on DR energy saving capacities; high cost estimates for DR technologies and infrastructures; and policies focused on creating the conditions for liberalising the EU energy markets.

Institutional capacity and implementation issues in farmers' rights

Armed with the ‘equity’ and ‘conservation’ arguments that have a deep resonance with farming communities, developing countries are crafting a range of measures designed to protect farmers’ access to innovations, reward their contributions to the conservation and enhancement of plant genetic resources and provide incentives for sustained on-farm conservation. These measures range from the commericialization of farmers’ varieties to the conferment of a set of legally enforceable rights on farming communities – the exercise of which is expected to provide economic rewards to those responsible for on-farm conservation and innovation. The rights-based approach has been the cornerstone of legislative provision for implementing farmers’ rights in most developing countries. In drawing up these measures, developing countries do not appear to have systematically examined or provided for the substantial institutional capacity required for the effective implementation of farmers’ rights provisions. The lack of institutional capacity threatens to undermine any prospect of serious implementation of these provisions. More importantly, the expectation that significant incentives for on-farm conservation and innovation will flow from these ‘rights’ may be based on a flawed understanding of the economics of intellectual property rights. While farmers’ rights may provide only limited rewards for conservation, they may still have the effect of diluting the incentives for innovative institutional breeding programs – with the private sector increasingly relying on non-IPR instruments to profit from innovation. The focus on a rights-based approach may also draw attention away from alternative stewardship-based approaches to the realization of farmers’ rights objectives.

Measuring motion with kinematically redundant accelerometer arrays: theory, simulation and implementation

This work presents two schemes of measuring the linear and angular kinematics of a rigid body using a kinematically redundant array of triple-axis accelerometers with potential applications in biomechanics. A novel angular velocity estimation algorithm is proposed and evaluated that can compensate for angular velocity errors using measurements of the direction of gravity. Analysis and discussion of optimal sensor array characteristics are provided. A damped 2 axis pendulum was used to excite all 6 DoF of the a suspended accelerometer array through determined complex motion and is the basis of both simulation and experimental studies. The relationship between accuracy and sensor redundancy is investigated for arrays of up to 100 triple axis (300 accelerometer axes) accelerometers in simulation and 10 equivalent sensors (30 accelerometer axes) in the laboratory test rig. The paper also reports on the sensor calibration techniques and hardware implementation.

Diagnosing and treating operational and implementation barriers in synoptic marketing planning

Strategic marketing planning is now widely adopted by business-to-business organizations. While marketing planning principles are well established, practitioners attempting to implement the process often find their progress impeded by a variety of barriers. These barriers are explored through a review of published evidence and case study analysis of several organizations. This analysis exposes three levels of barriers to effective business-to-business marketing planning, relating to (i) organizational infrastructure, (ii) the planning process and (iii) implementation. These barriers reflect the synoptic nature of planning in many organizations. The findings lead to the development of a practitioner-oriented diagnostic and treatment tool which guides managers through the marketing planning process. Although this diagnostic deals specifically with issues which are relevant to the marketing planner, its wider implications for strategic planning are also explored.

Host selection and performance of the giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus (Gmelin) - Implications for pest management

1 The recent increase in planting of selected willow clones as energy crops for biomass production has resulted in a need to understand the relationship between commonly grown, clonally propagated genotypes and their pests. 2 For the first time, we present a study of the interactions of six willow clones and a previously unconsidered pest, the giant willow aphid Tuberolachnus salignus. 3 Tuberolachnus salignus alatae displayed no preference between the clones, but there was genetic variation in resistance between the clones; Q83 was the most resistant and led to the lowest reproductive performance in the aphid 4 Maternal effects buffered changes in aphid performance. On four tested willow clones fecundity of first generation aphids on the new host clone was intermediate to that of the second generation and that of the clone used to maintain the aphids in culture. 5 In the field, patterns of aphid infestation were highly variable between years, with the duration of attack being up to four times longer in 1999. In both years there was a significant effect of willow clone on the intensity of infestation. However, whereas Orm had the lowest intensity of infestation in the first year, Dasyclados supported a lower population level than other monitored clones in the second year.

Formulation and implementation of a residual-mean ocean circulation model

A parameterization of mesoscale eddies in coarse-resolution ocean general circulation models (GCM) is formulated and implemented using a residual-mean formalism. In that framework, mean buoyancy is advected by the residual velocity (the sum of the Eulerian and eddy-induced velocities) and modified by a residual flux which accounts for the diabatic effects of mesoscale eddies. The residual velocity is obtained by stepping forward a residual-mean momentum equation in which eddy stresses appear as forcing terms. Study of the spatial distribution of eddy stresses, derived by using them as control parameters to ‘‘fit’’ the residual-mean model to observations, supports the idea that eddy stresses can be likened to a vertical down-gradient flux of momentum with a coefficient which is constant in the vertical. The residual eddy flux is set to zero in the ocean interior, where mesoscale eddies are assumed to be quasi-adiabatic, but is parameterized by a horizontal down-gradient diffusivity near the surface where eddies develop a diabatic component as they stir properties horizontally across steep isopycnals. The residual-mean model is implemented and tested in the MIT general circulation model. It is shown that the resulting model (1) has a climatology that is superior to that obtained using the Gent and McWilliams parameterization scheme with a spatially uniform diffusivity and (2) allows one to significantly reduce the (spurious) horizontal viscosity used in coarse resolution GCMs.