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A Double-threshold GARCH Model for the French Franc/Deutschmark exchange rate
This paper combines and generalizes a number of recent time series models of daily exchange rate series by using a SETAR model which also allows the variance equation of a GARCH specification for the error terms to be drawn from more than one regime. An application of the model to the French Franc/Deutschmark exchange rate demonstrates that out-of-sample forecasts for the exchange rate volatility are also improved when the restriction that the data it is drawn from a single regime is removed. This result highlights the importance of considering both types of regime shift (i.e. thresholds in variance as well as in mean) when analysing financial time series
Electromechanical modeling and experimental analysis of a compression-based piezoelectric vibration energy harvester
Over the past few decades, wireless sensor networks have been widely used in the field of structure health monitoring of civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems. Currently, most wireless sensor networks are battery-powered and it is costly and unsustainable for maintenance because of the requirement for frequent battery replacements. As an attempt to address such issue, this article theoretically and experimentally studies a compression-based piezoelectric energy harvester using a multilayer stack configuration, which is suitable for civil infrastructure system applications where large compressive loads occur, such as heavily vehicular loading acting on pavements. In this article, we firstly present analytical and numerical modeling of the piezoelectric multilayer stack under axial compressive loading, which is based on the linear theory of piezoelectricity. A two-degree-of-freedom electromechanical model, considering both the mechanical and electrical aspects of the proposed harvester, was developed to characterize the harvested electrical power under the external electrical load. Exact closed-form expressions of the electromechanical models have been derived to analyze the mechanical and electrical properties of the proposed harvester. The theoretical analyses are validated through several experiments for a test prototype under harmonic excitations. The test results exhibit very good agreement with the analytical analyses and numerical simulations for a range of resistive loads and input excitation levels. © 2014 The Author(s)
The Raman Fingerprint of Graphene
Graphene is the two-dimensional (2d) building block for carbon allotropes of
every other dimensionality. It can be stacked into 3d graphite, rolled into 1d
nanotubes, or wrapped into 0d fullerenes. Its recent discovery in free state
has finally provided the possibility to study experimentally its electronic and
phonon properties. Here we show that graphene's electronic structure is
uniquely captured in its Raman spectrum that clearly evolves with increasing
number of layers. Raman fingerprints for single-, bi- and few-layer graphene
reflect changes in the electronic structure and electron-phonon interactions
and allow unambiguous, high-throughput, non-destructive identification of
graphene layers, which is critically lacking in this emerging research area
Shadows and traces in bicategories
Traces in symmetric monoidal categories are well-known and have many
applications; for instance, their functoriality directly implies the Lefschetz
fixed point theorem. However, for some applications, such as generalizations of
the Lefschetz theorem, one needs "noncommutative" traces, such as the
Hattori-Stallings trace for modules over noncommutative rings. In this paper we
study a generalization of the symmetric monoidal trace which applies to
noncommutative situations; its context is a bicategory equipped with an extra
structure called a "shadow." In particular, we prove its functoriality and
2-functoriality, which are essential to its applications in fixed-point theory.
Throughout we make use of an appropriate "cylindrical" type of string diagram,
which we justify formally in an appendix.Comment: 46 pages; v2: reorganized and shortened, added proof for cylindrical
string diagrams; v3: final version, to appear in JHR
Response of spectral reflectances and vegetation indices on varying juniper cone densities
Juniper trees are widely distributed throughout the world and are common sources of allergies when microscopic pollen grains are transported by wind and inhaled. In this study, we investigated the spectral influences of pollen-discharging male juniper cones within a juniper canopy. This was done through a controlled outdoor experiment involving ASD FieldSpec Pro Spectroradiometer measurements over juniper canopies of varying cone densities. Broadband and narrowband spectral reflectance and vegetation index (VI) patterns were evaluated as to their sensitivity and their ability to discriminate the presence of cones. The overall aim of this research was to assess remotely sensed phenological capabilities to detect pollen-bearing juniper trees for public health applications. A general decrease in reflectance values with increasing juniper cone density was found, particularly in the Green (545-565 nm) and NIR (750-1,350 nm) regions. In contrast, reflectances in the shortwave-infrared (SWIR, 2,000 nm to 2,350 nm) region decreased from no cone presence to intermediate amounts (90 g/m2) and then increased from intermediate levels tothe highest cone densities (200 g/m2). Reflectance patterns in the Red (620-700 nm) were more complex due to shifting contrast patterns in absorptance between cones and juniper foliage, where juniper foliage is more absorbing than cones only within the intense narrowband region of maximum chlorophyll absorption near 680 nm. Overall, narrowband reflectances were more sensitive to cone density changes than the equivalent MODIS broadbands. In all VIs analyzed, there were significant relationships with cone density levels, particularly with the narrowband versions and the two-band vegetation index (TBVI) based on Green and Red bands, a promising outcome for the use of phenocams in juniper phenology trait studies. These results indicate that spectral indices are sensitive to certain juniper phenologic traits that can potentially be used for juniper cone detection in support of public health applications. © 2013 by the authors
FSL-BM: Fuzzy Supervised Learning with Binary Meta-Feature for Classification
This paper introduces a novel real-time Fuzzy Supervised Learning with Binary
Meta-Feature (FSL-BM) for big data classification task. The study of real-time
algorithms addresses several major concerns, which are namely: accuracy, memory
consumption, and ability to stretch assumptions and time complexity. Attaining
a fast computational model providing fuzzy logic and supervised learning is one
of the main challenges in the machine learning. In this research paper, we
present FSL-BM algorithm as an efficient solution of supervised learning with
fuzzy logic processing using binary meta-feature representation using Hamming
Distance and Hash function to relax assumptions. While many studies focused on
reducing time complexity and increasing accuracy during the last decade, the
novel contribution of this proposed solution comes through integration of
Hamming Distance, Hash function, binary meta-features, binary classification to
provide real time supervised method. Hash Tables (HT) component gives a fast
access to existing indices; and therefore, the generation of new indices in a
constant time complexity, which supersedes existing fuzzy supervised algorithms
with better or comparable results. To summarize, the main contribution of this
technique for real-time Fuzzy Supervised Learning is to represent hypothesis
through binary input as meta-feature space and creating the Fuzzy Supervised
Hash table to train and validate model.Comment: FICC201
Degradation of Metaldehyde in Aqueous Solution by Nano-Sized Photocatalysts and Granular Activated Carbon
Metaldehyde has been detected in drinking water system in relatively high concentration exceeding European water quality standard. In order to address this problem, the aim of this project was to treat metaldehyde aqueous solution by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and granular activated carbon (GAC) column. Ten novel materials were tested for degradation rates of metaldehyde under ultraviolet light irradiation (UVC). For treatment of 1 mg/L metaldehyde solution by AOPs, the highest degradation rate is 16.59% under UVC light with the aid of nitrogen doped titanium dioxide coated graphene (NTiO2/Gr). Furthermore, 0.5 mg/L is the optimal concentration for degradation of metaldehyde with N–TiO2/Gr under UVC light. Apart from that, the lifetime of GAC column could be elongated on condition that metaldehyde has been treated by AOPs previously. Hence, combination of AOPs and GAC column is promising in treating water containing metaldehyde
Primary Progressive Aphasia: Toward a Pathophysiological Synthesis
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The term primary progressive aphasia (PPA) refers to a diverse group of dementias that present with prominent and early problems with speech and language. They present considerable challenges to clinicians and researchers. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we review critical issues around diagnosis of the three major PPA variants (semantic variant PPA, nonfluent/agrammatic variant PPA, logopenic variant PPA), as well as considering 'fragmentary' syndromes. We next consider issues around assessing disease stage, before discussing physiological phenotyping of proteinopathies across the PPA spectrum. We also review evidence for core central auditory impairments in PPA, outline critical challenges associated with treatment, discuss pathophysiological features of each major PPA variant, and conclude with thoughts on key challenges that remain to be addressed. New findings elucidating the pathophysiology of PPA represent a major step forward in our understanding of these diseases, with implications for diagnosis, care, management, and therapies
Early Treatment of Nevus of Ota in Children is More Effective and Beneficial to Mental Health: Observation on the Efficacy of Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Treating 159 Cases of Nevus of Ota in Children
Ji-Cong Jiang,* Ying-Wei Wang,* Yu Gao, Qi-Shuang Zhou Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325027, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qi-Shuang Zhou; Yu Gao, Email [email protected]; [email protected] and Objective: Nevus of Ota (NO), also known as “brownish-blue nevus of the palate of the eye”, is a benign dermal pigmentation that increases skin disease. The Q-switched ruby laser is a classic treatment for nevus of Ota in children, but the optimal age for treatment is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of Q-switched ruby laser in children with nevus of Ota at different ages and the effect on psychological health status.Materials and Methods: Children with nevus of Ota treated with Q-switched ruby laser in the Department of Dermatology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2015 to June 2019 were retrospectively analysed. And the mental health status was assessed using the CDI scale.Results: In the preschool children group (0– 7 year age), the significant efficacy rates was 93.1%, the average number of treatments was 3.6, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 4.7%. The significant efficacy rates in the school-age children group (7– 14 year age) was 90.3%, the average number of treatments was 5.1, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 13.7%. The mean post-treatment CDI score in the preschool children group was 10.8, and 9.7% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean pre-treatment CDI score in the school-age children group was 17.3, and 24.6% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean post-treatment CDI score was 13.6 and 15.1% of children exceeded 19 points. The chi-square test for the significant efficacy rate of the two groups showed P> 0.05, which was not statistically significant. The significant efficacy rate of the preschool group and that of the school-age children group. The t-test for the number of treatments in the two groups showed P< 0.05, which was statistically significant. Adverse reactions in the two groups showed a statistically significant P< 0.05. The mean CDI scores and the percentage of depressed individuals in the school-age children group were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (p< 0.05).Conclusion: Q-switched ruby laser is safe and effective in treating nevus of Ota in children. Early treatment can reduce the number of treatments and the incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, early treatment can reduce children’s depression, which is beneficial to mental health.Keywords: nevus of Ota, children, Q-switched ruby laser, early treatment, mental healt
Input-to-state stability of infinite-dimensional control systems
We develop tools for investigation of input-to-state stability (ISS) of
infinite-dimensional control systems. We show that for certain classes of
admissible inputs the existence of an ISS-Lyapunov function implies the
input-to-state stability of a system. Then for the case of systems described by
abstract equations in Banach spaces we develop two methods of construction of
local and global ISS-Lyapunov functions. We prove a linearization principle
that allows a construction of a local ISS-Lyapunov function for a system which
linear approximation is ISS. In order to study interconnections of nonlinear
infinite-dimensional systems, we generalize the small-gain theorem to the case
of infinite-dimensional systems and provide a way to construct an ISS-Lyapunov
function for an entire interconnection, if ISS-Lyapunov functions for
subsystems are known and the small-gain condition is satisfied. We illustrate
the theory on examples of linear and semilinear reaction-diffusion equations.Comment: 33 page
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