A performance evaluation of pruning effects on hybrid neural network

In this paper, we explore the pruning effects on a hybrid mode sequential learning algorithmnamely FuzzyARTMAP-prunable Radial Basis Function (FAM-PRBF) that utilizes FuzzyARTMAP to learn a training dataset and Radial Basis Function Network (RBFN) to performregression and classification. The pruning algorithm is used to optimize the hidden layer ofthe RBFN. The experimental results show that FAM-PRBF has successfully reduced thecomplexity and computation time of the neural network.Keywords: pruning; radial basis function network; fuzzy ARTMAP

Characterization of Mn-Doped Vanadium Phosphorus Oxide (VPO) Catalyst: Effect of Ball Milling

The effect of ball milling on the structure and surface reactivity of the Mn-doped vanadium phosphorus oxide (V–P–O) catalyst is discussed. Mn-doped VOHPO4·½H2O precursor was prepared via organic method. The precursor was ball milled in isopropyl alcohol using agate balls for 60 min at 800 rpm. XRD, BET surface area measurements, SEM, O2-TPD, H2-TPR and TPD of NH3 were used to characterize properties of the final catalysts. The results revealed that mechanical treatment of Mn-doped V–P–O catalyst increased surface area as well as reduced particle size of the material. Furthermore, process also increased exposure of (001) crystallographic plane of VOHPO4·½H2O precursor. The secondary structure of the milled material is also lost. The total amount of oxygen desorbed (from O2-TPD) and removed (by H2-TPR) from milled material is higher compared to the unmilled one. The surface acidity of the catalyst was also increased after milling process, as evidenced by lower desorption temperature and higher total amount of the ammonia desorbed

Differential regulation of effector- and central-memory responses to Toxoplasma gondii infection by IL-12 revealed by tracking of Tgd057-specific CD8+ T cells

10.1371/journal.ppat.1000815PLoS Pathogens6

Dissolved heavy metals and water quality in the surface waters of rivers and drainages of the West Peninsular Malaysia

The dissolved concentrations of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Fe and Zn), temperature, total dissolved solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity and conductivity were determined in the surface waters of 24 geographical sampling sites including city and urban drainages and rivers, from the west Peninsular Malaysia, collected in January to April 2005. From these sampling sites, the ranges (min-max) of dissolved metal concentrations (mg/L) were Cd: 0.001-0.055, Cu: 0.001-0.1773, Pb: 0.001-1.523, Ni: 0.001-0.246, Fe: 0.001-35.67 and Zn: 0.0001-0.609 while for the water quality are pH: 4.96-9.81, dissolved oxygen (0.39-7.26 mg/L), total dissolved solids (0.002-10.02 mg/L), salinity (0.00-8.93 ppt), conductivity (3.33-17423 μS/cm) and temperature (27.8-35.3�). Some sites with elevated dissolved concentrations of heavy metals and poor water quality indicated the anthropogenic inputs of industrial and urban wastes. Regular monitoring of water quality in all drainage waters is recommended

Syngas Production from Glycerol-dry(CO2) Reforming Over La-promoted Ni/Al2O3 Catalyst

A 3 wt% La-promoted Ni/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared via wet co-impregnation technique and physicochemically-characterized. Lanthanum was responsible for better metal dispersion; hence higher BET specific surface area (96.0 m2 g−1) as compared to the unpromoted Ni/Al2O3 catalyst (85.0 m2 g−1). In addition, the La-promoted catalyst possessed finer crystallite size (9.1 nm) whilst the unpromoted catalyst measured 12.8 nm. Subsequently, glycerol dry reforming was performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures ranging from 923 to 1123 K employing CO2-to-glycerol ratio from zero to five. Significantly, the reaction results have yielded syngas as main gaseous products with H2:CO ratios always below than 2.0 with concomitant maximum 96% glycerol conversion obtained at the CO2-to-glycerol ratio of 1.67. In addition, the glycerol consumption rate can be adequately captured using power law modelling with the order of reactions equal 0.72 and 0.14 with respect to glycerol and CO2 whilst the activation energy was 35.0 kJ mol−1. A 72 h longevity run moreover revealed that the catalyst gave a stable catalytic performance