1,505 research outputs found
Sparse Coding on Stereo Video for Object Detection
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN) require millions of labeled
training examples for image classification and object detection tasks, which
restrict these models to domains where such datasets are available. In this
paper, we explore the use of unsupervised sparse coding applied to stereo-video
data to help alleviate the need for large amounts of labeled data. We show that
replacing a typical supervised convolutional layer with an unsupervised
sparse-coding layer within a DCNN allows for better performance on a car
detection task when only a limited number of labeled training examples is
available. Furthermore, the network that incorporates sparse coding allows for
more consistent performance over varying initializations and ordering of
training examples when compared to a fully supervised DCNN. Finally, we compare
activations between the unsupervised sparse-coding layer and the supervised
convolutional layer, and show that the sparse representation exhibits an
encoding that is depth selective, whereas encodings from the convolutional
layer do not exhibit such selectivity. These result indicates promise for using
unsupervised sparse-coding approaches in real-world computer vision tasks in
domains with limited labeled training data
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Evaluation of the wind farm parameterization in the Weather Research and Forecasting model (version 3.8.1) with meteorological and turbine power data
Abstract. Forecasts of wind power production are necessary to facilitate the integration of wind energy into power grids, and these forecasts should incorporate the impact of wind turbine wakes. This paper focuses on a case study of four diurnal cycles with significant power production, and assesses the skill of the wind farm parameterization (WFP) distributed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.8.1, as well as its sensitivity to model configuration. After validating the simulated ambient flow with observations, we quantify the value of the WFP as it accounts for wake impacts on power production of downwind turbines. We also illustrate that a vertical grid with nominally 12-m vertical resolution is necessary for reproducing the observed power production, with statistical significance. Further, the WFP overestimates wake effects and hence underestimates downwind power production during high wind speed and low turbulence conditions. We also find the WFP performance is independent of atmospheric stability, the number of wind turbines per model grid cell, and the upwind-downwind position of turbines. Rather, the ability of the WFP to predict power production is most dependent on the skill of the WRF model in simulating the ambient wind speed.
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Ultraviolet television data from the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. 1: Instrumentation and analysis techniques for the celescope experiment
The celescope instrumentation and data analysis system is described, the major problems encountered during orbital operation are summerized, and a few major problems that were anticipated but did not materialize are listed
Report of the Working Group on the Composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays
For the first time a proper comparison of the average depth of shower maximum
() published by the Pierre Auger and Telescope Array Observatories
is presented. The distributions measured by the Pierre Auger
Observatory were fit using simulated events initiated by four primaries
(proton, helium, nitrogen and iron). The primary abundances which best describe
the Auger data were simulated through the Telescope Array (TA) Middle Drum (MD)
fluorescence and surface detector array. The simulated events were analyzed by
the TA Collaboration using the same procedure as applied to their data. The
result is a simulated version of the Auger data as it would be observed by TA.
This analysis allows a direct comparison of the evolution of with energy of both data sets. The
measured by TA-MD is consistent with a preliminary simulation of the Auger data
through the TA detector and the average difference between the two data sets
was found to be .Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the UHECR workshop, Springdale USA,
201
Sparse Encoding of Binocular Images for Depth Inference
Sparse coding models have been widely used to decompose monocular images into linear combinations of small numbers of basis vectors drawn from an overcomplete set. However, little work has examined sparse coding in the context of stereopsis. In this paper, we demonstrate that sparse coding facilitates better depth inference with sparse activations than comparable feed-forward networks of the same size. This is likely due to the noise and redundancy of feed-forward activations, whereas sparse coding utilizes lateral competition to selectively encode image features within a narrow band of depths
Determining the Magnetic Field Orientation of Coronal Mass Ejections from Faraday Rotation
We describe a method to measure the magnetic field orientation of coronal
mass ejections (CMEs) using Faraday rotation (FR). Two basic FR profiles,
Gaussian-shaped with a single polarity or "N"-like with polarity reversals, are
produced by a radio source occulted by a moving flux rope depending on its
orientation. These curves are consistent with the Helios observations,
providing evidence for the flux-rope geometry of CMEs. Many background radio
sources can map CMEs in FR onto the sky. We demonstrate with a simple flux rope
that the magnetic field orientation and helicity of the flux rope can be
determined 2-3 days before it reaches Earth, which is of crucial importance for
space weather forecasting. An FR calculation based on global
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of CMEs in a background heliosphere shows
that FR mapping can also resolve a CME geometry curved back to the Sun. We
discuss implementation of the method using data from the Mileura Widefield
Array (MWA).Comment: 22 pages with 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophys.
Assessing variability of wind speed: comparison and validation of 27 methodologies
Because wind resources vary from year to year, the
intermonthly and interannual variability (IAV) of wind speed is a key
component of the overall uncertainty in the wind resource assessment
process, thereby creating challenges for wind farm operators and owners. We
present a critical assessment of several common approaches for calculating
variability by applying each of the methods to the same 37-year monthly
wind-speed and energy-production time series to highlight the differences
between these methods. We then assess the accuracy of the variability
calculations by correlating the wind-speed variability estimates to the
variabilities of actual wind farm energy production. We recommend the robust
coefficient of variation (RCoV) for systematically estimating variability,
and we underscore its advantages as well as the importance of using a
statistically robust and resistant method. Using normalized spread metrics,
including RCoV, high variability of monthly mean wind speeds at a location
effectively denotes strong fluctuations of monthly total energy generation,
and vice versa. Meanwhile, the wind-speed IAVs computed with annual-mean
data fail to adequately represent energy-production IAVs of wind farms.
Finally, we find that estimates of energy-generation variability require 10±3 years of monthly mean wind-speed records to achieve a 90 %
statistical confidence. This paper also provides guidance on the spatial
distribution of wind-speed RCoV.</p
National Geodetic Satellite Program, Part II: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
A sequence of advances in the determination of geodetic parameters presented by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory are described. A Baker-Nunn photographic system was used in addition to a ruby-laser ranging system to obtain data for refinement of geodetic parameters. A summary of the data employed to: (1) derive coordinates for the locations of various tracking stations; and (2) determine the gravitational potential of the earth, is presented
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Grand challenges in the science of wind energy
Modern wind turbines already represent a tightly optimized confluence of materials science and aerodynamic engineering. Veers et al. review the challenges and opportunities for further expanding this technology, with an emphasis on the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. They highlight the need to better understand atmospheric physics in the regions where taller turbines will operate as well as the materials constraints associated with the scale-up. The mutual interaction of turbine sites with one another and with the evolving features of the overall electricity grid will furthermore necessitate a systems approach to future development.</p
A model for transition of 5 '-nuclease domain of DNA polymerase I from inert to active modes
Bacteria contain DNA polymerase I (PolI), a single polypeptide chain consisting of similar to 930 residues, possessing DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, 3'-5' proofreading and 5'-3' exonuclease (also known as flap endonuclease) activities. PolI is particularly important in the processing of Okazaki fragments generated during lagging strand replication and must ultimately produce a double-stranded substrate with a nick suitable for DNA ligase to seal. PolI's activities must be highly coordinated both temporally and spatially otherwise uncontrolled 5'-nuclease activity could attack a nick and produce extended gaps leading to potentially lethal double-strand breaks. To investigate the mechanism of how PolI efficiently produces these nicks, we present theoretical studies on the dynamics of two possible scenarios or models. In one the flap DNA substrate can transit from the polymerase active site to the 5'-nuclease active site, with the relative position of the two active sites being kept fixed; while the other is that the 5'-nuclease domain can transit from the inactive mode, with the 5'-nuclease active site distant from the cleavage site on the DNA substrate, to the active mode, where the active site and substrate cleavage site are juxtaposed. The theoretical results based on the former scenario are inconsistent with the available experimental data that indicated that the majority of 5'-nucleolytic processing events are carried out by the same PolI molecule that has just extended the upstream primer terminus. By contrast, the theoretical results on the latter model, which is constructed based on available structural studies, are consistent with the experimental data. We thus conclude that the latter model rather than the former one is reasonable to describe the cooperation of the PolI's polymerase and 5'-3' exonuclease activities. Moreover, predicted results for the latter model are presented
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