Addressing missing values in kernel-based multimodal biometric fusion using neutral point substitution

In multimodal biometric information fusion, it is common to encounter missing modalities in which matching cannot be performed. As a result, at the match score level, this implies that scores will be missing. We address the multimodal fusion problem involving missing modalities (scores) using support vector machines with the Neutral Point Substitution (NPS) method. The approach starts by processing each modality using a kernel. When a modality is missing, at the kernel level, the missing modality is substituted by one that is unbiased with regards to the classification, called a neutral point. Critically, unlike conventional missing-data substitution methods, explicit calculation of neutral points may be omitted by virtue of their implicit incorporation within the SVM training framework. Experiments based on the publicly available Biosecure DS2 multimodal (scores) data set shows that the SVM-NPS approach achieves very good generalization performance compared to the sum rule fusion, especially with severe missing modalities

Evolution of the characteristics of Parametric X-ray Radiation from textured polycrystals under different observation angles

The Parametric X-Ray radiation (PXR) spectra and yield dependencies on the orientation angle are measured during the interaction of 7 MeV electrons with a tungsten textured polycrystalline foil for different observation angles. The effects of PXR spectral density increase and PXR yield orientation dependence broadening in the backward direction is shown experimentally for the first tim

Parametric X-ray radiation from powders

Parametric X-ray Radiation (PXR) produced in powders has been observed for the first time. PXR spectra were measured under observation angles of 150°and 180°during the interaction of relativistic 7MeV electrons with a tungsten powder. All the PXR peaks that theoretically can be produced in the studied energy region were registered. The performed absolute comparison of the experiment with the PXR kinematical theory from randomly oriented crystallites showed a good accordanc

Parametric X-ray radiation and texture of polycrystalline foils

The texture of polycrystalline foils of tungsten and nickel was studied using Parametric X-ray Radiation (PXR) generated by7 MeV electrons. The PXR rocking curves from crystallographic planes (200) for tungsten and (220) for nickel were obtained.A comparison with similar measurements obtained using diffraction of broadband X-rays is presented. The comparison showed agood compliance of the results concerning the form of the rocking curves and the position of the maximums. However, a systema-tic discrepancy in the value of the Full Width Half Maximum was observed

Addressing Missing Values in Kernel-based Multimodal Biometric Fusion using Neutral Point Substitution

In multimodal biometric information fusion, it is common to encounter missing modalities in which matching cannot be performed. As a result, at the match score level, this implies that scores will be missing. We address the multimodal fusion problem involving missing modalities (scores) using support vector machines (SVMs) with the neutral point substitution (NPS) method. The approach starts by processing each modality using a kernel. When a modality is missing, at the kernel level, the missing modality is substituted by one that is unbiased with regards to the classification, called a neutral point. Critically, unlike conventional missing-data substitution methods, explicit calculation of neutral points may be omitted by virtue of their implicit incorporation within the SVM training framework. Experiments based on the publicly available Biosecure DS2 multimodal (scores) data set show that the SVM-NPS approach achieves very good generalization performance compared to the sum rule fusion, especially with severe missing modalities

Risk factors for gout: Gender differences

Objective: to comparatively assess risk factors for gout in male and female patients with this condition. Subjects and methods. The study enrolled 340 gouty patients (289 men and 51 women) examined in the period 2002 to 2009. The diagno sis corresponded to the criteria developed by S.L. Wallace. The mean age was 52.3±11.4 years for the women and 52.3±10.4 years for the men. The study group included female patients with gout and a comparison group comprised male patients with this condition. All the patients were interviewed using a questionnaire to identify risk factors for gout: the regular use of diuretics or alcoholic beverages before the onset of this disease, the presence of arterial hypertension (AH), and menopause in women. Results. The intake of diuretics before gout was reported by 57% of the women and 19.7% of the men (p < 0.00001). The drugs were given to all the men according to medical indications; 10 of 29 women took diuretics to lose weight. Alcohol was consumed more than twice week ly by 17.6% of the women and 33.6% of the men (p = 0.032). The median weekly alcohol consumption was 2 (range 1-4) conventional units (CU) in the women and 4 (range 2-10) CU in the men (p = 0.002). AH occurring the onset of gout was found in 30 (59%) women and 136 (47%) men (p = 0.13). Menopause developing prior to the onset of gout was noted in 26 (51%) women. Conclusion. Among possible causes of gout, the use of diuretics is more common in the women than in the men, moreover, the former take them unfairly in one third of cases. The women consume alcohol less frequently and in smaller quantities, but the rate of female intake of alcoholic beverages is associated with younger age at the onset of gout. In early menopause or amenorrhea, gout more frequently occurs at a young age. AH is a common risk factor for gout in both the women (59%) and the men (47%)

Thermal vacuum testing of the power supply system of the nanosatellite NTUU

The results of thermal vacuum testing of experimental model of the nanosatellite NTUU "KPI" in a vacuum chamber ТВК-0,2 are shown in the article. Objective of the tests was to check the power system of the nanosatellite. Tests have shown that when exposed to factors that simulate space, the power system of the nanosatellite is operating normally