Knowledge Base Version Reintegration

Given two versions of a knowledge base (KB), independently modified, we investigated the problem of incorporating changes made to one KB version into the other. We have implemented a system that will perform such a reintegration, autonomously, using predetermined user preferences. This effort has lead to a greater insight into the version reintegration problem and has highlighted those areas where user intervention would be the most beneficial in a semi-autonomous system

Compensating for pneumatic distortion in pressure sensing devices

A technique of compensating for pneumatic distortion in pressure sensing devices was developed and verified. This compensation allows conventional pressure sensing technology to obtain improved unsteady pressure measurements. Pressure distortion caused by frictional attenuation and pneumatic resonance within the sensing system makes obtaining unsteady pressure measurements by conventional sensors difficult. Most distortion occurs within the pneumatic tubing which transmits pressure impulses from the aircraft's surface to the measurement transducer. To avoid pneumatic distortion, experiment designers mount the pressure sensor at the surface of the aircraft, (called in-situ mounting). In-situ transducers cannot always fit in the available space and sometimes pneumatic tubing must be run from the aircraft's surface to the pressure transducer. A technique to measure unsteady pressure data using conventional pressure sensing technology was developed. A pneumatic distortion model is reduced to a low-order, state-variable model retaining most of the dynamic characteristics of the full model. The reduced-order model is coupled with results from minimum variance estimation theory to develop an algorithm to compensate for the effects of pneumatic distortion. Both postflight and real-time algorithms are developed and evaluated using simulated and flight data

An Intuitive Graphical Query Interface for Protégé Knowledge Bases

Emily is a graphical query engine for Protégé knowledge bases that was developed by the Structural Informatics Group (SIG) at the University of Washington. Currently this application is adapted for a specific knowledge model, the Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) [1], but it could readily be generalized for use with other Protégé knowledge bases. In developing the Emily query interface, our intent was to provide a tool that was simple and intuitive to use, like the Queries tab provided with Protégé, but with improved information retrieval capabilities. Although some more advanced query mechanisms exist, currently they are too complicated for non-expert end users. The Algernon tab [2], for example, provides extensive Protégé query capabilities but requires users to learn a query scripting language. We sought to develop a query interface that was intuitive enough for end users to operate, with only minor instruction, yet was powerful enough to gather interesting information from a knowledge base that was not easily attained by browsing alone

Novel irregular LDPC codes and their application to iterative detection of MIMO systems

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are among the best performing error correction codes currently known. For higher performing irregular LDPC codes, degree distributions have been found which produce codes with optimum performance in the infinite block length case. Significant performance degradation is seen at more practical short block lengths. A significant focus in the search for practical LDPC codes is to find a construction method which minimises this reduction in performance as codes approach short lengths. In this work, a novel irregular LDPC code is proposed which makes use of the SPA decoder at the design stage in order to make the best choice of edge placement with respect to iterative decoding performance in the presence of noise. This method, a modification of the progressive edge growth (PEG) algorithm for edge placement in parity-check matrix (PCM) construction is named the DOPEG algorithm. The DOPEG design algorithm is highly flexible in that the decoder optimisation stage may be applied to any modification or extension of the original PEG algorithm with relative ease. To illustrate this fact, the decoder optimisation step was applied to the IPEG modification to the PEG algorithm, which produces codes with comparatively excellent performance. This extension to the DOPEG is called the DOIPEG. A spatially multiplexed coded iteratively detected and decoded multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system is then considered. The MIMO system to be investigated is developed through theory and a number of results are presented which illustrate its performance characteristics. The novel DOPEG code is tested for the MIMO system under consideration and a significant performance gain is achieved

The stratigraphy of the Fishguard volcanic complex and associated sediments, SW Dyfed, Wales

This thesis describes the geology of a Lower Palaeozoic terrain, situated west of the town of Fishguard, SW Dyfed, Wales. The area is dominated by the Fishguard Volcanic Complex (Upper Llanvirn), and sediments that range in age from the Middle Cambrian to the Lower Llandeilo. The successions represent an insight into sedimentation and volcanism for c. 100 Ma. along the south-western margin of the Lower Palaeozoic Welsh Basin. The stratigraphy of the sedimentary sequence has been completely revised and the existing volcanostratigraphy modified. The observed complexity of the stratigraphy is primarily the consequence of Caldedonide deformation which resulted in large scale repetition. Fold-thrust tectonics dominates the structural style of the area. Caledonide trending (NE-SW) cross-faults complicate preexisting structures. Middle Cambrian (?) sedimentation is documented by shallow marine clastics and red shales deposited within tidal - subtidal environments. Upper Cambrian sedimentation was dominated by shallow marine `storm' and `fair weather' sedimentation within a muddy shelf environment. Shallow marine conglomerates and heterolithic intertidal siliciclastics mark the onset of Ordovician sedimentation during the lower Arenig transgression. Mid-Arenig sediments reflect deposits influenced by storm, fair-weather and wave related processes in various shallow marine environments, including; shoreface, inner shelf, shoaling bar, and deltaic. Graptolitic marine shales were deposited from the upper mid-Arenig through to the lower Llandeilo; during which time sediments accumulated by pelagic processes and fine grained turbidites. The varied nature of sedimentation reflects both localised change within the depositional system and the influence of larger regional eustatic events. Ordovician subaqueous volcanic activity produced thick accumulations of lavas, pyroclastics, hydroclastics, and hyaloclastics. The majority of volcanism was effusive in nature, erupted below the Pressure Compensation Level. Basaltic volcanism was characterised by pillowed lavas and tube networks, whilst sheet-flow lavas, pillow breccias and minor hyaloclastites developed locally. Silicic volcanism was dominated by rhyolitic clastics of various affinities, although coherent silicic obsidian lavas, sheet-flow lavas and pyroclastics developed. Hypabyssal intrusives of variable composition and habit occur throughout the volcanic successions. Low-grade regional metamorphism has variably affected the area, conditions of the prehnite-pumpellyite and greenschist facies having been attained. Numerous secondary phases developed in response to the conditions imposed, which collectively indicate that P-T conditions were of low-pressure facies series in the range P= 1.2-2.0 kbars and T= 230-350oC, under an elevated geothermal gradient of 40-45oC km-1. Polymineralic cataclastites associated with Caledonide deformation indicate that tectonism and metamorphism were in part contemporaneous

Transition to marriage

One of the most sign ificant psychosocial adjustments in adulthood is the transition to marriage. Although most men and women in the United States will marry at some point in their lives and most look forward to this event with anticipation and excitement, the transition to marriage also involves adaptation to a variety of tasks that may fundamentally alter spouses\u27 view of themselves and their alliances

The Z=82 shell closure in neutron-deficient Pb isotopes

Recent mass measurements show a substantial weakening of the binding energy difference delta_{2p} (Z,N) = E(Z-2,N) - 2 E(Z,N) + E(Z+2,N) in the neutron-deficient Pb isotopes. As delta_{2p} is often attributed to the size of the proton magic gap, it might be speculated that the reduction in delta_{2p} is related to a weakening of the spherical Z=82 shell. We demonstrate that the observed trend is described quantitatively by self-consistent mean-field models in terms of deformed ground states of Hg and Po isotopes.Comment: submitted to Eur. Phys. J.