29,016 research outputs found
Modular Autoencoders for Ensemble Feature Extraction
We introduce the concept of a Modular Autoencoder (MAE), capable of learning
a set of diverse but complementary representations from unlabelled data, that
can later be used for supervised tasks. The learning of the representations is
controlled by a trade off parameter, and we show on six benchmark datasets the
optimum lies between two extremes: a set of smaller, independent autoencoders
each with low capacity, versus a single monolithic encoding, outperforming an
appropriate baseline. In the present paper we explore the special case of
linear MAE, and derive an SVD-based algorithm which converges several orders of
magnitude faster than gradient descent.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, to appear in a special issue of The Journal Of
Machine Learning Research (vol.44, Dec 2015
Classification with unknown class-conditional label noise on non-compact feature spaces
We investigate the problem of classification in the presence of unknown
class-conditional label noise in which the labels observed by the learner have
been corrupted with some unknown class dependent probability. In order to
obtain finite sample rates, previous approaches to classification with unknown
class-conditional label noise have required that the regression function is
close to its extrema on sets of large measure. We shall consider this problem
in the setting of non-compact metric spaces, where the regression function need
not attain its extrema.
In this setting we determine the minimax optimal learning rates (up to
logarithmic factors). The rate displays interesting threshold behaviour: When
the regression function approaches its extrema at a sufficient rate, the
optimal learning rates are of the same order as those obtained in the
label-noise free setting. If the regression function approaches its extrema
more gradually then classification performance necessarily degrades. In
addition, we present an adaptive algorithm which attains these rates without
prior knowledge of either the distributional parameters or the local density.
This identifies for the first time a scenario in which finite sample rates are
achievable in the label noise setting, but they differ from the optimal rates
without label noise
Landform identification: Lunar radar images
Three sets of polarized radar-echo images of the Moon were examined to establish the relation between radar resolution and landform-identification resolution. After comparison with lunar maps and photographs, real and apparent landforms on the radar images were grouped into one of seven classes. Results show strong relations between radar resolution and diameter or relief of landforms that are clearly identified and those that would probably be correctly identified (class 1 and class 2). Landforms are not detected (class 5) at all diameters and reliefs, but the percentage of undetected landforms decreases with increasing mean diameter and mean relief. Landforms are simply detected (class 4) at most mean diameters and reliefs. Ambiguous arrays (class 6) portrayed by the radar constitute up to about 16, 22, and 15% of the landforms at various diameters and relief values for the 3.8 cm, 70 cm high resolution, and 70 cm low resolution images, respectively. Only a few percent of the landforms portrayed by the radar images at various diameters and relief values are fictitious (class 7)
Nonlinear Effects in Easement Valuation
Rules of thumb have been developed to assist appraisers in dealing with the uncertainties that abound when easement values must be estimated. An economic analysis of one popular rule-of-thumb technique, based on a fixed percentage of the value of a hypothetical fee simple interest in the affected land, reveals that such methodology could not generally be expected to yield meaningful results. If a rule of thumb were to be employed, its use would be more supportable if the underlying assumptions reflected the nonlinear structure of land values.
Nuclear technology and the space exploration missions
The strategy for a major exploration initiative leading to permanent human presence beyond earth orbit is still being developed; however enough is known to begin defining the role of nuclear technologies. Three broad areas are discussed: low power (less than 10 kWe) rover/vehicle power systems; integrated, evolutionary base power systems (25 to 100 kW) and nuclear energy for electric propulsion (2 to 100 MWe); and direct thermal propulsion (1000s MW). A phased, evolutionary approach is described for both the moon and Mars, and the benefits of nuclear technologies relative to solar and their integration are described
Oscillator strengths for OII ions
Oscillator strengths between various doublet states of OII ions are calculated in which extensive multi-configuration wave functions are used. The lower levels for the transitions are of the 2p(3) D(2)o and 2p(3) 2po states, and the upper levels are 2p(4), 3s, and 3d states. The results, which are estimated to have errors of less than 10% for individual transitions, agree quite well with the beam foil experiments, as well as with the calculations by use of the non-closed shell many electron theory (NCMET). The agreement with the rocket measurements is also good except for the 538/581 A pair, in which the 538 A line is believed to be blend with the other stronger quartet line. However, a comparison with the recent branching ratio measurement indicates that discrepances between the present calculation and th experiment do exist for certain transistions
Flight tests of a direct lift control system during approach and landing
Flight tests of modified aileron direct lift control system during approach and landing of F8-C aircraf
The Stellar Activity - Rotation Relationship
Using a new catalog of 824 solar and late-type stars with X-ray luminosities
and rotation periods we have studied the relationship between rotation and
stellar activity. From an unbiased subset of this sample the power law slope of
the unsaturated regime, , is fit as
. This is inconsistent with the canonical slope
to a confidence of 5 and argues for an interface-type dynamo.
Super-saturation is observed for the fastest rotators in our sample and its
parametric dependencies are explored. Significant correlations are found with
both the corotation radius and the excess polar updraft, the latter theory
being supported by other observations. We also present a new X-ray population
synthesis model of the mature stellar component of our Galaxy and use it to
reproduce deep observations of a high Galactic latitude field. The model,
XStar, can be used to test models of stellar spin-down and dynamo decay, as
well as for estimating stellar X-ray contamination rates for non-stellar
studies.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the proceedings of Cool Stars 17:
17th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun, AN 334,
1-2, Eds Klaus Strassmeier and Mercedes Lopez-Morale
The Solar Neighborhood VIII: Discovery of New High Proper Motion Nearby Stars Using the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey
Five new objects with proper motions between 1.0 arcsec/yr and 2.6 arcsec/yr
have been discovered via a new RECONS search for high proper motion stars
utilizing the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. The first portion of the search,
discussed here, is centered on the south celestial pole and covers declinations
-90 degrees to -57.5 degrees.
Photographic photometry from SuperCOSMOS and JHKs near-infrared photometry
from 2MASS for stars nearer than 10 pc are combined to provide a suite of new
M_Ks-color relations useful for estimating distances to main sequence stars.
These relations are then used to derive distances to the new proper motion
objects as well as previously known stars with mu >= 1.0 arcsec/yr (many of
which have no trigonometric parallaxes) recovered during this phase of the
survey.
Four of the five new stars have red dwarf colors, while one is a nearby white
dwarf. Two of the red dwarfs are likely to be within the RECONS 10 pc sample,
and the white dwarf probably lies between 15 and 25 pc. Among the 23 known
stars recovered during the search, there are three additional candidates for
the RECONS sample that have no trigonometric parallaxes.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in Astronomy Journa
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