Extend transferable belief models with probabilistic priors

In this paper, we extend Smets' transferable belief model (TBM) with probabilistic priors. Our first motivation for the extension is about evidential reasoning when the underlying prior knowledge base is Bayesian. We extend standard Dempster models with prior probabilities to represent beliefs and distinguish between two types of induced mass functions on an extended Dempster model: one for believing and the other essentially for decision-making. There is a natural correspondence between these two mass functions. In the extended model, we propose two conditioning rules for evidential reasoning with probabilistic knowledge base. Our second motivation is about the partial dissociation of betting at the pignistic level from believing at the credal level in TBM. In our extended TBM, we coordinate these two levels by employing the extended Dempster model to represent beliefs at the credal level. Pignistic probabilities are derived not from the induced mass function for believing but from the one for decision-making in the model and hence need not rely on the choice of frame of discernment. Moreover, we show that the above two proposed conditionings and marginalization (or coarsening) are consistent with pignistic transformation in the extended TBM

Stabilization of multiple resistance levels by current-sweep in SiOx-based resistive switching memory

Using current-sweep measurements, the set process in SiOx-based resistive random access memory (RRAM) has been found to consist of multiple resistance-reduction steps. Variation in set behaviors was observed and attributed to different defect distributions in the resistance switching region. Physical mechanism of electroforming process is discussed, which further explains the observed variation of defect distributions. A compliance current study confirms that the achievable memory states of SiOx RRAM are determined by its set behavior. This finding provides additional insight on achieving multi-bit memory storage with SiOx RRAM. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.Microelectronics Research Cente

Optimization of Dimples in Microchannel Heat Sink with Impinging Jets—Part B: the Influences of Dimple Height and Arrangement

The combination of a microchannel heat sink with impinging jets and dimples (MHSIJD) can effectively improve the flow and heat transfer performance on the cooling surface of electronic devices with very high heat fluxes. Based on the previous work by analysing the effect of dimple radius on the overall performance of MHSIJD, the effects of dimple height and arrangement were numerically analysed. The velocity distribution, pressure drop, and thermal performance of MHSIJD under various dimple heights and arrangements were presented. The results showed that: MHSIJD with higher dimples had better overall performance with dimple radius being fixed; creating a mismatch between the impinging hole and dimple can solve the issue caused by the drift phenomenon; the mismatch between the impinging hole and dimple did not exhibit better overall performance than a well-matched design

Global behavior of cosmological dynamics with interacting Veneziano ghost

In this paper, we shall study the dynamical behavior of the universe accelerated by the so called Veneziano ghost dark energy component locally and globally by using the linearization and nullcline method developed in this paper. The energy density is generalized to be proportional to the Hawking temperature defined on the trapping horizon instead of Hubble horizon of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe. We also give a prediction of the fate of the universe and present the bifurcation phenomenon of the dynamical system of the universe. It seems that the universe could be dominated by dark energy at present in some region of the parameter space.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in JHE

Effects of Chronic Alcohol and Repeated Deprivations on Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor Levels in the Extended Amygdala of Inbred Alcohol-Preferring Rats

Background Dopaminergic (DA) activity in the extended amygdala (EA) has been known to play a pivotal role in mediating drug and alcohol addiction. Alterations of DA activity within the EA after chronic exposure to alcohol or substances of abuse are considered a major mechanism for the development of alcoholism and addiction. To date, it is not clear how different patterns of chronic alcohol drinking affect DA receptor levels. Therefore, the current studies investigated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption, with or without deprivations, on D1 and D2 receptor densities within the EA. Methods Inbred alcohol-preferring (iP) rats were divided into 3 groups with the following treatments: (1) water for 14 weeks; (2) continuous alcohol (C-Alc) for 14 weeks [24-hour concurrent access to 15 and 30% (v/v) ethanol]; or (3) repeatedly deprived of alcohol (RD-Alc) (24-hour concurrent access to 15 and 30% ethanol for 6 weeks, followed by 2 cycles of 2 weeks of deprivation of and 2 weeks of reexposure to ethanol access). At the end of 14 weeks, the rats were killed for autoradiographic labeling of D1 and D2 receptors. Results Compared with the water control group, both the C-Alc and the RD-Alc groups displayed increases in D1 receptor binding density in the anterior region of the Acb core, whereas the RD-Alc group displayed additional increases in D1 receptor binding density in anterior regions of the lateral and intercalated nuclei of the amygdala. Additionally, both C-Alc and RD-Alc rats displayed increases in D2 receptor binding density in anterior regions of the Acb shell and core, whereas RDAlc rats displayed additional increases in D2 receptor binding density in the dorsal striatum. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that 14-week extended alcohol drinking with continuous chronic or repeated deprivations increase binding sites of D1 and D2 receptors in specific regions of the EA with greater sensitivity in the anterior regions. The repeated deprivation has greater effect on altering D1 and D2 receptor binding sites in the Acb, dorsal striatum, and subamygdala regions. The current result indicates that the two drinking paradigms may have common as well as differential mechanisms on alteration of dopamine receptor–binding sites in specific regions of the EA

Urban-scale building energy consumption database: A case study for Wuhan, China

Building energy consumption accounts for 30% of the overall energy end use worldwide. This number is even much higher in urban areas. With rapid urbanization in China, cities are expanding with new constructions. It is essential to create an updated urban-scale building energy consumption database to represent energy use for different types of buildings in China, which could help urban planners, managers and decision makers to understand temporal and spatial building energy consumption distribution and ensure required electricity and/or gas supply. However, such urban-scale database is rarely found in China. This paper creates baseline EnergyPlus models for residential, small office and large office buildings and validates the baseline models using survey data from literature. Parametric simulations are conducted to consider different design factors, such as building enclosure, lighting power density, equipment power density, HVAC schedule, etc. In total 351 EnergyPlus models are generated to cover different energy use intensity scenarios. Data-driven regression analysis is conducted to predict building energy consumption using building price/rent. The prediction results are expected to provide design decision support for urban planning and power distribution for new constructions

Is 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine a Suppressor or Activator in Epigenetic Marks?

poster abstractAlcohol has been observed to have teratogenic effects on humans and mice during different stages of embryonic development. These effects can be condensed under fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), exhibiting a variety of signs from growth retardations to neurobehavioral aberrations. Despite better understanding of several potential mechanisms, the question of how alcohol, as an environmental factor leads to brain growth delay in FASD remains elusive. DNA methylation is key to development and tissue specification. Studies have suggested that alcohol may alter gene expression by affecting DNA and histone methylation. Previous studies have demonstrated that 5-methylcytosine (5mC), a DNA methylation mark, is associated with histone 3 lysine-9me3, (H3K9me3) to play a role in gene repression. Recently another methylation mark, 5hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC), was found to prevail in the nervous system. However, its function has not been clear. Global analysis suggests that it is a transition of demethylation leading to transcription. The study will first identify its association with histone 3 lysine-4me3, (H3K4me3) a transcriptional activator in gene expression, and then study the 5hmC under influence of alcohol exposure. This study will utilize both an in vivo model—the vapor chamber, and an in vitro model—the embryonic culture system to address this question. Embryos were exposed to alcohol (400mg/dL, 88mM) from the beginning of embryonic day (E) 8 for 6hrs, harvested at E10, and processed for immunohistochemistry. Compare the DNA methylation marks, and histone modification marks to see if the spatial and/or temporal distribution has been affected by alcohol exposure. It is expected that in the alcohol-treated embryos, an overall retardation of embryonic growth, delayed neural tube formation, and altered expression of epigenetic markers will be observed. This study could indicate that alcohol, through alteration of DNA and histone methylation is a potential mechanism underpinning brain growth delay in FASD