ART-EMAP: A Neural Network Architecture for Learning and Prediction by Evidence Accumulation

This paper introduces ART-EMAP, a neural architecture that uses spatial and temporal evidence accumulation to extend the capabilities of fuzzy ARTMAP. ART-EMAP combines supervised and unsupervised learning and a medium-term memory process to accomplish stable pattern category recognition in a noisy input environment. The ART-EMAP system features (i) distributed pattern registration at a view category field; (ii) a decision criterion for mapping between view and object categories which can delay categorization of ambiguous objects and trigger an evidence accumulation process when faced with a low confidence prediction; (iii) a process that accumulates evidence at a medium-term memory (MTM) field; and (iv) an unsupervised learning algorithm to fine-tune performance after a limited initial period of supervised network training. ART-EMAP dynamics are illustrated with a benchmark simulation example. Applications include 3-D object recognition from a series of ambiguous 2-D views.British Petroleum (89-A-1204); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (AFOSR-90-0083, ONR-N00014-92-J-4015); National Science Foundation (IRI-90-00530); Office of Naval Research (N00014-91-J-4100); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-0083

ART-EMAP: A Neural Network Architecture for Object Recognition by Evidence Accumulation

A new neural network architecture is introduced for the recognition of pattern classes after supervised and unsupervised learning. Applications include spatio-temporal image understanding and prediction and 3-D object recognition from a series of ambiguous 2-D views. The architecture, called ART-EMAP, achieves a synthesis of adaptive resonance theory (ART) and spatial and temporal evidence integration for dynamic predictive mapping (EMAP). ART-EMAP extends the capabilities of fuzzy ARTMAP in four incremental stages. Stage 1 introduces distributed pattern representation at a view category field. Stage 2 adds a decision criterion to the mapping between view and object categories, delaying identification of ambiguous objects when faced with a low confidence prediction. Stage 3 augments the system with a field where evidence accumulates in medium-term memory (MTM). Stage 4 adds an unsupervised learning process to fine-tune performance after the limited initial period of supervised network training. Each ART-EMAP stage is illustrated with a benchmark simulation example, using both noisy and noise-free data. A concluding set of simulations demonstrate ART-EMAP performance on a difficult 3-D object recognition problem.Advanced Research Projects Agency (ONR N00014-92-J-4015); National Science Foundation (IRI-90-00530); Office of Naval Research (N00014-91-J-4100); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-0083

3-D Object Recognition by the ART-EMAP Evidence Accumulation Network

ART-EMAP synthesizes adaptive resonance theory (AHT) and spatial and temporal evidence integration for dynamic predictive mapping (EMAP). The network extends the capabilities of fuzzy ARTMAP in four incremental stages. Stage I introduces distributed pattern representation at a view category field. Stage 2 adds a decision criterion to the mapping between view and object categories, delaying identification of ambiguous objects when faced with a low confidence prediction. Stage 3 augments the system with a field where evidence accumulates in medium-term memory (MTM). Stage 4 adds an unsupervised learning process to fine-tune performance after the limited initial period of supervised network training. Simulations of the four ART-EMAP stages demonstrate performance on a difficult 3-D object recognition problem.Advanced Research Projects Agency (ONR N00014-92-J-4015); National Science Foundation (IRI-90-00530); Office of Naval Research (N00014-91-J-1309); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-0083

Text-Critical Question Begging in Nahum 1,2–8: Re-evaluating the Evidence and Arguments

The idea that Nahum 1 contains an acrostic poem is held by many scholars. This paper reinvestigates the proposals for emending Nahum 1,2–8 in light of the Septuagint (LXX) as a text-critical witness. LXX scholarship has long noted that the translation technique employed in a given unit, book, or corpus is essential to discerning properly whether and how Greek renderings function text-critically for the MT. In light of an analysis of the translation technique of Nahum 1,2–8, then, this paper outlines the manner in which arguments for textual emendation of the Hebrew on the basis of the LXX beg the question.Nahum 1 wird von vielen Auslegern als Akrostichon angesehen. Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Vorschläge zur Emendation in Nah 1,2–8 auf dem Hintergrund der LXX-Überlieferung. Die Forschungen zur LXX haben lange schon auf die Bedeutung der Übersetzungstechnik für die Auswertung der LXX Varianten zum MT-Text aufmerksam gemacht. Entsprechende Einsichten werden für die Bewertung der Emendationen in Nah 2,1–8 fruchtbar gemacht.De nombreux exégètes pensent que Nahoum 1 contient un acrostiche. Cet article réexamine les propositions pour corriger Na 1,2–8 à la lumière de la Septante (LXX). La recherche sur la LXX a observé depuis longtemps que la technique de traduction utilisée dans une unité, un livre ou un corpus donné est essentielle pour discerner correctement si et comment les traductions en grec peuvent être utilisées par rapport au TM dans une logique de critique textuelle. À la lumière d’une analyse de la technique de traduction de Na 1,2–8, cet article soulève la question de la correction du texte hébreu sur la base de la LXX.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from De Gruyter via http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/zaw-2015-002

Flame spread across liquid pools

For flame spread over liquid fuel pools, the existing literature suggests three gravitational influences: (1) liquid phase buoyant convection, delaying ignition and assisting flame spread; (2) hydrostatic pressure variation, due to variation in the liquid pool height caused by thermocapillary-induced convection; and (3) gas-phase buoyant convection in the opposite direction to the liquid phase motion. No current model accounts for all three influences. In fact, prior to this work, there was no ability to determine whether ignition delay times and flame spread rates would be greater or lesser in low gravity. Flame spread over liquid fuel pools is most commonly characterized by the relationship of the initial pool temperature to the fuel's idealized flash point temperature, with four or five separate characteristic regimes having been identified. In the uniform spread regime, control has been attributed to: (1) gas-phase conduction and radiation; (2) gas-phase conduction only; (3) gas-phase convection and liquid conduction, and most recently (4) liquid convection ahead of the flame. Suggestions were made that the liquid convection was owed to both vuoyancy and thermocapillarity. Of special interest to this work is the determination of whether, and under what conditions, pulsating spread can and will occur in microgravity in the absence of buoyant flows in both phases. The approach we have taken to resolving the importance of buoyancy for these flames is: (1) normal gravity experiments and advanced diagnostics; (2) microgravity experiments; and (3) numerical modelling at arbitrary gravitational level

High Water Marks

Incentive fees for money managers are frequently accompanied by high-water mark provisions that condition the payment of the performance fee upon exceeding the previously achieved maximum share value. In this paper, we show that hedge fund performance fees are valuable to money managers, and conversely, represent a claim on a significant proportion of investor wealth. The high-water mark provisions in these contracts limit the value of the performance fees. We provide a closed-form solution to the cost of the high-water mark contract under certain conditions. Our results provide a framework for valuation of a hedge fund management company.

The Backward Shift on the Hardy Space

Shift operators on Hilbert spaces of analytic functions play an important role in the study of bounded linear operators on Hilbert spaces since they often serve as models for various classes of linear operators. For example, parts of direct sums of the backward shift operator on the classical Hardy space H2 model certain types of contraction operators and potentially have connections to understanding the invariant subspaces of a general linear operator. This book is a thorough treatment of the characterization of the backward shift invariant subspaces of the well-known Hardy spaces Hp. The characterization of the backward shift invariant subspaces of Hp for 1\u3cp\u3c∞ was done in a 1970 paper of R. Douglas, H. S. Shapiro, and A. Shields, and the case 0\u3cp≤1 was done in a 1979 paper of A. B. Aleksandrov which is not well known in the West. This material is pulled together in this single volume and includes all the necessary background material needed to understand (especially for the 0\u3cp\u3c1 case) the proofs of these results. Several proofs of the Douglas-Shapiro-Shields result are provided so readers can get acquainted with different operator theory and theory techniques: applications of these proofs are also provided for understanding the backward shift operator on various other spaces of analytic functions. The results are thoroughly examined. Other features of the volume include a description of applications to the spectral properties of the backward shift operator and a treatment of some general real-variable techniques that are not taught in standard graduate seminars. The book includes references to works by Duren, Garnett, and Stein for proofs and a bibliography for further exploration in the areas of operator theory and functional analysis.https://scholarship.richmond.edu/bookshelf/1096/thumbnail.jp

The Backward Shift on the Hardy Space

Shift operators on Hilbert spaces of analytic functions play an important role in the study of bounded linear operators on Hilbert spaces since they often serve as models for various classes of linear operators. For example, parts of direct sums of the backward shift operator on the classical Hardy space H2 model certain types of contraction operators and potentially have connections to understanding the invariant subspaces of a general linear operator. This book is a thorough treatment of the characterization of the backward shift invariant subspaces of the well-known Hardy spaces Hp. The characterization of the backward shift invariant subspaces of Hp for 1\u3cp\u3c∞ was done in a 1970 paper of R. Douglas, H. S. Shapiro, and A. Shields, and the case 0\u3cp≤1 was done in a 1979 paper of A. B. Aleksandrov which is not well known in the West. This material is pulled together in this single volume and includes all the necessary background material needed to understand (especially for the 0\u3cp\u3c1 case) the proofs of these results. Several proofs of the Douglas-Shapiro-Shields result are provided so readers can get acquainted with different operator theory and theory techniques: applications of these proofs are also provided for understanding the backward shift operator on various other spaces of analytic functions. The results are thoroughly examined. Other features of the volume include a description of applications to the spectral properties of the backward shift operator and a treatment of some general real-variable techniques that are not taught in standard graduate seminars. The book includes references to works by Duren, Garnett, and Stein for proofs and a bibliography for further exploration in the areas of operator theory and functional analysis.https://scholarship.richmond.edu/bookshelf/1096/thumbnail.jp

Weak-star limits on polynomials and their derivatives

Let μ and v be regular finite Borel measures with compact support in the real line ℝ and define the differential operator D :L ∞(μ) → L ∞(v) with domain equal to the polynomials P by Dp = p′. In this paper we will characterize the weak-star closure of the graph of D in ∞(μ) ⊕ ∞(y). As a consequence we will characterize when D is closable (i.e. the weak-star closure of G contains no non-zero elements of the form o ⊕ g) and when g is weak-star dense in L∞(μ) ⊕ L ∞(v). We will also consider the same problem where μ and v are measures supported on the unit circle T

Implementation of a Pulsed-Laser Measurement System in the National Transonic Facility

A remotely-adjustable laser transmission and imaging system has been developed for use in a high-pressure, cryogenic wind tunnel. Implementation in the National Transonic Facility has proven the system suitable for velocity and signal lifetime measurements over a range of operating conditions. The measurement system allows for the delivery of high-powered laser pulses through the outer pressure shell and into the test section interior from a mezzanine where the laser is free from environmental disturbances (such as vibrations and excessive condensation) associated with operation of the wind tunnel. Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) was utilized to provide freestream velocity measurements, and first results show typical data that may be obtained using the system herein described