27,576 research outputs found
Automatic Clustering with Single Optimal Solution
Determining optimal number of clusters in a dataset is a challenging task.
Though some methods are available, there is no algorithm that produces unique
clustering solution. The paper proposes an Automatic Merging for Single Optimal
Solution (AMSOS) which aims to generate unique and nearly optimal clusters for
the given datasets automatically. The AMSOS is iteratively merges the closest
clusters automatically by validating with cluster validity measure to find
single and nearly optimal clusters for the given data set. Experiments on both
synthetic and real data have proved that the proposed algorithm finds single
and nearly optimal clustering structure in terms of number of clusters,
compactness and separation.Comment: 13 pages,4 Tables, 3 figure
Leprosy and tuberculosis concomitant infection: a poorly understood, age-old relationship
Historically, archaeological evidence, post-mortem findings and retro- spective analysis of leprosy institutions’ data demonstrates a high observed incidence of concomitant infection with leprosy and tuberculosis (TB). However, reports of concomitant infection in the modern literature remain scarce, with estimates of annual new case detection rates of concomitant infection at approximately 0·02 cases per 100,000 population. Whilst the mechanism for this apparent decline in concomitant infections remains unclear, further research on this topic has remained relatively neglected. Modelling of the interaction of the two organisms has suggested that the apparent decline in observations of concomitant infection may be due to the protective effects of cross immunity, whilst more recently others have questioned whether it is a more harmful relationship, predisposing towards increased host mortality. We review recent evidence, comparing it to previously held understanding on the epidemiological relationship and our own experience of concomitant infection. From this discussion, we highlight several under-investigated areas, which may lead to improvements in the future delivery of leprosy management and services, as well as enhance understanding in other fields of infection management. These include, a) highlighting the need for greater understanding of host immunogenetics involved in concomitant infection, b) whether prolonged courses of high dose steroids pre-dispose to TB infection? and, c) whether there is a risk of rifampicin resistance developing in leprosy patients treated in the face of undiagnosed TB and other infections? Longitudinal work is still required to characterise these temporal relationships further and add to the current paucity of literature on this subject matter
Elliptic supersonic jet morphology manipulation using sharp-tipped lobes
Elliptic nozzle geometry is attractive for mixing enhancement of supersonic
jets. However, jet dynamics, such as flapping, gives rise to high-intensity
tonal sound. We experimentally manipulate the supersonic elliptic jet
morphology by using two sharp-tipped lobes. The lobes are placed on either end
of the minor axis in an elliptic nozzle. The design Mach number and the aspect
ratio of the elliptic nozzle and the lobed nozzle are 2.0 and 1.65. The
supersonic jet is exhausted into ambient at almost perfectly expanded
conditions. Time-resolved schlieren imaging, longitudinal and cross-sectional
planar laser Mie-scattering imaging, planar Particle Image Velocimetry, and
near-field microphone measurements are performed to assess the fluidic behavior
of the two nozzles. Dynamic Mode and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (DMD and
POD) analysis are carried out on the schlieren and the Mie-scattering images.
Mixing characteristics are extracted from the Mie-scattering images through the
image processing routines. The flapping elliptic jet consists of two dominant
DMD modes, while the lobed nozzle has only one dominant mode, and the flapping
is suppressed. Microphone measurements show the associated noise reduction. The
jet column bifurcates in the lobed nozzle enabling a larger surface contact
area with the ambient fluid and higher mixing rates in the near-field of the
nozzle exit. The jet width growth rate of the two-lobed nozzle is about twice
as that of the elliptic jet in the near-field, and there is a 40\% reduction in
the potential core length. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) contours
substantiate the results.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures. Revised version submitted to Physics of Fluids
for peer review. URL of the Video files (Fig. 6 & Fig. 14) are given in the
text files (see in '/anc/*.txt'
Groundwater externalities of surface irrigation transfers under National River Linking Project: Polavaram – Vijayawada link
River basin managementRiver basin developmentDevelopment projectsWater transferIrrigation canalsGroundwater irrigationTube well irrigationRiceSurface irrigationCrop managementSoil salinityWaterlogging
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