11,994 research outputs found
Capturing hand tremors with a fuzzy logic wheelchair joystick controller
We have designed and built a fuzzy logic wheelchair controller which minimizes the effect of Multiple Sclerosis and tremors. The aim of our project has been to give people with Multiple Sclerosis better control of an electric wheelchair by removing tremors from the joystick signal. The system intercepts the signal from the joystick and then passes it through the fuzzy logic controller. The fuzzy logic identify and eliminate erratic or unusual movements, employing a history mechanism to determine what "unusual" is. The fuzzy logic than outputs a signal which closely represents the intent of the user. This paper reports on the experiments conducted with our prototype wheelchair, using test volunteers with MS, as well as on the design of a new fuzzy controller. Also, we give a brief overview of the variety of recorded tremors. We show that those who have the most severe MS tremors benefit from the system, and are able to control the wheelchair safely
UK economic performance since 1997: growth, productivity and jobs
A common view is that the performance of the UK economy between 1997 and 2010 under Labour was very weak and that the current economic problems are a consequence of poor policies in this period. In this report, we analyse the historical performance of the UK economy since 1997 compared with other major advanced economies and with performance prior to 1997, notably the years of Conservative government, 1979-97. We focus on measures of business performance, especially productivity growth. This is a key economic indicator as in the long run, productivity determines material wellbeing - wages and consumption. Productivity determines the size of the 'economic pie' available to the citizens of a country
Understanding the Complexity of Lifted Inference and Asymmetric Weighted Model Counting
In this paper we study lifted inference for the Weighted First-Order Model
Counting problem (WFOMC), which counts the assignments that satisfy a given
sentence in first-order logic (FOL); it has applications in Statistical
Relational Learning (SRL) and Probabilistic Databases (PDB). We present several
results. First, we describe a lifted inference algorithm that generalizes prior
approaches in SRL and PDB. Second, we provide a novel dichotomy result for a
non-trivial fragment of FO CNF sentences, showing that for each sentence the
WFOMC problem is either in PTIME or #P-hard in the size of the input domain; we
prove that, in the first case our algorithm solves the WFOMC problem in PTIME,
and in the second case it fails. Third, we present several properties of the
algorithm. Finally, we discuss limitations of lifted inference for symmetric
probabilistic databases (where the weights of ground literals depend only on
the relation name, and not on the constants of the domain), and prove the
impossibility of a dichotomy result for the complexity of probabilistic
inference for the entire language FOL
Construction of the de Sitter supergravity
Recently, the complete action for an N=1 pure supergravity action in 4
dimensions that allows a positive, negative or zero cosmological constant has
been constructed. The action is the generalization of a Volkov-Akulov action
for the Goldstino coupled to supergravity. The construction uses a nilpotent
multiplet.
This paper is written in honour of Philippe Spindel. AVP enjoyed
collaborations and many interactions with Philippe, who has always appreciated
very precise derivations. We use this occasion to give a very detailed account
of the calculations that lead to the published results. We review aspects of
supersymmetry with de Sitter backgrounds, the treatment of auxiliary fields,
and other ingredients in the construction.Comment: contribution to the proceedings of the workshop "About various kinds
of interactions" in honor of Philippe Spindel; v2: changed references, and
correction of torsion lagrangian (5.15
Motion in a rocked ratchet with spatially periodic friction
We present a detailed study of the transport and energetics of a Brownian
particle moving in a periodic potential in the presence of an adiabatic
external periodic drive. The particle is considered to move in a medium with
periodic space dependent friction with the same periodicity as that of the
potential but with a phase lag. We obtain several results, most of them arising
due to the medium being inhomogeneous and are sensitive to the phase lag. When
the potential is symmetric we show that efficiency of energy transduction can
be maximised as a function of noise strength or temperature. However, in the
case of asymmtertic potential the temperature may or may not facilitate the
energy conversion but current reversals can be obtained as a function of
temperature and the amplitude of the periodic drive. The reentrant behaviour of
current can also be seen as a function of phase lag
UK Economic Performance Since 1997: Growth, Productivity and Jobs
A common view is that the performance of the UK economy between 1997 and 2010 under Labour was very weak and that the current economic problems are a consequence of poor policies in this period. In this report, we analyse the historical performance of the UK economy since 1997 compared with other major advanced economies and with performance prior to 1997, notably the years of Conservative government, 1979-97. We focus on measures of business performance, especially productivity growth. This is a key economic indicator as in the long run, productivity determines material wellbeing - wages and consumption. Productivity determines the size of the "economic pie" available to the citizens of a country.Income, productivity, UK economic performance, government economic policy, Great Recession, business
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