An Adaptive Locally Connected Neuron Model: Focusing Neuron

This paper presents a new artificial neuron model capable of learning its receptive field in the topological domain of inputs. The model provides adaptive and differentiable local connectivity (plasticity) applicable to any domain. It requires no other tool than the backpropagation algorithm to learn its parameters which control the receptive field locations and apertures. This research explores whether this ability makes the neuron focus on informative inputs and yields any advantage over fully connected neurons. The experiments include tests of focusing neuron networks of one or two hidden layers on synthetic and well-known image recognition data sets. The results demonstrated that the focusing neurons can move their receptive fields towards more informative inputs. In the simple two-hidden layer networks, the focusing layers outperformed the dense layers in the classification of the 2D spatial data sets. Moreover, the focusing networks performed better than the dense networks even when 70$\%$ of the weights were pruned. The tests on convolutional networks revealed that using focusing layers instead of dense layers for the classification of convolutional features may work better in some data sets.Comment: 45 pages, a national patent filed, submitted to Turkish Patent Office, No: -2017/17601, Date: 09.11.201

Piggery: from environmental pollution to a climate change solution

Pig farms are a vital component of rural economies in Australia. However, disposal of effluent leads to many environmental problems. This case study of the Berrybank Farm piggery waste management system in Victoria estimates greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits from three different activities. Analysis reveals that the capturing and combusting of methane from piggery effluent could save between 4859 and 5840 tCO2e yr−1 ofGHGemissions. Similarly, using methane for replacing fuels for electricity generation could save another 800 tCO2e/yr of GHGs. Likewise, by utilizing the biogas wastes to replace inorganic fertilizers there could be a further saving of 1193 to 1375 tCO2e yr−1 of GHG, depending on the type of fertilizers the waste replaces. Therefore, a well-managed piggery farm with 15,000 pigs could save 6,852 to 8,015 tCO2e/yr, which equates to the carbon sequestrated from 6,800 to 8,000 spotted gum trees (age = 35 year) in their above plus below-ground biomass. Implementation of similar project in suitable areas in Australia could have significant environmental and financial benefits

Bachian Gravity in Three Dimensions

In three dimensions, there exist modifications of Einstein's gravity akin to the topologically massive gravity that describe massive gravitons about maximally symmetric backgrounds. These theories are built on the three-dimensional version of the Bach tensor (a curl of the Cotton-York tensor) and its higher derivative generalizations; and they are on-shell consistent without a Lagrangian description based on the metric tensor alone. We give a generic construction of these models, find the spectra and compute the conserved quantities for the Banados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole.Comment: 17 pages, a note added on MM

Community based forest management systems in developing countries and eligibility for clean development mechanism

Concerns have been raised among the scientific communities about the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon sequestration rates can be maintained or increased by afforestation, reforestation, avoided deforestation, forest preservation and particular tending and cultural operations on existing forests. Of these, afforestation and reforestation are the only eligible project activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Of the three market-based mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (KP), CDM is the only one designed for developing countries where, coincidently, community based forest management systems (CBFMS) are becoming the main form of forest management. Under these systems, enhanced natural regeneration, forest preservation and wise utilization through different sets of cultural and tending operations are widely practiced in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These systems are often more compatible with the essence of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) than are alternative management systems. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper highlights the importance of community forests in developing countries and then explains why many of them may not be eligible for CDM project activities. After that, some reasons why enhanced natural regeneration and forest preservation activities should be considered under the CDM project activities will be discussed. If community forests contribute to achieving the main objectives of CDM program as well as providing biodiversity benefits, and if they are the only socially acceptable and economically viable option, then they should be eligible under the CDM project activities. In particular, the CDM forest definition (>10% crown cover) should not be a barrier to their eligibility

Analysis of spacing for spotted gum plantations for maximising merchantable logs' volume in South East Queensland, Australia

Spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) has the potential to be the major hardwood species for large-scale plantations in South East Queensland, Australia, but production research is limited due to the lack of age of research plots. Optimal spacing is a major subject of concern. Based on time series data from a spotted gum experiment site, growth performance is analysed for five spacing levels: ─11.3 m x 11.3 m (78 stems per hectare), 7.4 m x 7.4 m (182 sph), 5.4 m x 5.4 m (343 sph), 3.6 m x 3.6 m (771 sph) and 2.9 m x 2.9 m (1189 sph). The major objective was assumed to be to maximise total merchantable log volume. A growth model was produced, and the mean diameter at breast height (dbh) and total merchantable log volume for each spacing levels at a range of harvesting ages was estimated. From the analysis, the spacing level of 5.4 m x 5.4 m was found to be optimal for maximising merchantable log volume to 10 cm small-end diameter. Further analysis of mean dbh, height and volume of the largest 200 and 250 trees from this spacing level indicates that merchantable log volume could be maximised by retaining the 250 largest trees per hectare. The total financial revenue from the best spacing level in 25 and 30 years are predicted to be $13,637 and$17,779 per hectare, respectively. If full rotation data could be obtained, more reliable models could be produced, and a more accurate financial estimate could be made

Development of User-Interface Software Program for Double Weight Code Family for OCDMA

Optical Code Division Multiple Access (OCDMA) offers high statistical multiplexing gain in a busty traffic environment and is thought to be a more suitable solution in local-area network. There have been many codes proposed OCDMA systems, such as Hadamard code, Modified Frequency Hopping (MFH) code and Double Weight (DW) code family. The inspiration of this study is to improve the Modified Double Weight (MDW) code to give a better performance and to enhance the detection technique of DW code family. There are few aspects that have been identified in this study. First of all, the construction of MDW code is studied. Besides, the equation-based construction technique is examined and is then simulated using Virtual Basic software version 6.0. The findings of the project will lead to a new development of the MDW code by having new user-interface software program to generate the DW codeword with an ease