Hybrid system of expert system and artificial neural networks for objective evaluation of product sensuous quality

Basic problems and the bottleneck of current approaches for objective assessment of product sensuous quality (PSQ) are discussed. As a solution, a new approach, an expert system (ES) based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) is proposed, in which the ES and ANNs co-operate in a superiority compensation way. T he knowledge base of the system can be effectively built and the evaluation of PSQ can be conducted on-line. As a case study, the new approach has been applied in leather handle test and it proves that the approach is capable of handling non-linear relationships among multiple measured PSQ parameters

The definition of "Insider" in section 3 of the securities markets Act 1988: A review and comparison with other jurisdictions

Statutory definitions of what constitutes an “insider” for the purposes of insider trading laws may be based on either a “person connection” approach or an “information connection” approach. The “person connection” approach defines “insider” by reference to the relationship of the person to the public issuer of securities, while the “information connection” approach considers anyone who has material price-sensitive information about the issuer to be an insider, regardless of his or her relationship to the issuer. In common with Japan, Hong Kong and China, New Zealand’s insider trading law — the Securities Markets Act 1988 — uses a person connection approach in its definition of “insider”. Other jurisdictions, however, including both the United Kingdom and Australia, have, to varying degrees, recently amended their definitions to reflect the information connection approach. The United States, although the first country to address the issue of insider trading, lacks a statutory definition of “insider” and instead relies on generally applicable laws against securities fraud. It has developed a definition with elements of both approaches. This paper reviews the definitions in use in the United States and in other countries (including New Zealand) which have been influenced by the American experience. It concludes that the narrow, relationship-based approach does not capture some conduct that may be damaging to the integrity of the securities market. A definition based on the information connection approach (perhaps combined with elements of the person connection approach) may therefore be preferable to New Zealand’s current definition

The Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) for estimation of turbulent heat fluxes

A Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) is proposed for the estimation of atmospheric turbulent fluxes and evaporative fraction using satellite earth observation data, in combination with meteorological information at proper scales. SEBS consists of: a set of tools for the determination of the land surface physical parameters, such as albedo, emissivity, temperature, vegetation coverage etc., from spectral reflectance and radiance measurements; a model for the determination of the roughness length for heat transfer; and a new formulation for the determination of the evaporative fraction on the basis of energy balance at limiting cases. Four experimental data sets are used to assess the reliabilities of SEBS. Based on these case studies, SEBS has proven to be capable to estimate turbulent heat fluxes and evaporative fraction at various scales with acceptable accuracy. The uncertainties in the estimated heat fluxes are comparable to in-situ measurement uncertainties.</p> <p style='line-height: 20px;'><b>Keywords:</b> Surface energy balance, turbulent heat flux, evaporation, remote sensin

EAGLE 2006 – Multi-purpose, multi-angle and multi-sensor in-situ and airborne campaigns over grassland and forest

EAGLE2006 - an intensive field campaign - was carried out in the Netherlands from the 8th until the 18th of June 2006. Several airborne sensors - an optical imaging sensor, an imaging microwave radiometer, and a flux airplane – were used and extensive ground measurements were conducted over one grassland (Cabauw) site and two forest sites (Loobos & Speulderbos) in the central part of the Netherlands, in addition to the acquisition of multi-angle and multi-sensor satellite data. The data set is both unique and urgently needed for the development and validation of models and inversion algorithms for quantitative surface parameter estimation and process studies. EAGLE2006 was led by the Department of Water Resources of the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation and originated from the combination of a number of initiatives coming under different funding. The objectives of the EAGLE2006 campaign were closely related to the objectives of other ESA Campaigns (SPARC2004, Sen2Flex2005 and especially AGRISAR2006). However, one important objective of the campaign is to build up a data base for the investigation and validation of the retrieval of bio-geophysical parameters, obtained at different radar frequencies (X-, C- and L-Band) and at hyperspectral optical and thermal bands acquired over vegetated fields (forest and grassland). As such, all activities were related to algorithm development for future satellite missions such as Sentinels and for satellite validations for MERIS, MODIS as well as AATSR and ASTER thermal data validation, with activities also related to the ASAR sensor on board ESA’s Envisat platform and those on EPS/MetOp and SMOS. Most of the activities in the campaign are highly relevant for the EU GEMS EAGLE project, but also issues related to retrieval of biophysical parameters from MERIS and MODIS as well as AATSR and ASTER data were of particular relevance to the NWO-SRON EcoRTM project, while scaling issues and complementary between these (covering only local sites) and global sensors such as MERIS/SEVIRI, EPS/MetOP and SMOS were also key elements for the SMOS cal/val project and the ESA-MOST DRAGON programme. This contribution describes the mission objectives and provides an overview of the airborne and field campaigns

Non-damping oscillations at flaring loops

Context. QPPs are usually detected as spatial displacements of coronal loops in imaging observations or as periodic shifts of line properties in spectroscopic observations. They are often applied for remote diagnostics of magnetic fields and plasma properties on the Sun. Aims. We combine imaging and spectroscopic measurements of available space missions, and investigate the properties of non-damping oscillations at flaring loops. Methods. We used the IRIS to measure the spectrum over a narrow slit. The double-component Gaussian fitting method was used to extract the line profile of Fe XXI 1354.08 A at "O I" window. The quasi-periodicity of loop oscillations were identified in the Fourier and wavelet spectra. Results. A periodicity at about 40 s is detected in the line properties of Fe XXI, HXR emissions in GOES 1-8 A derivative, and Fermi 26-50 keV. The Doppler velocity and line width oscillate in phase, while a phase shift of about Pi/2 is detected between the Doppler velocity and peak intensity. The amplitudes of Doppler velocity and line width oscillation are about 2.2 km/s and 1.9 km/s, respectively, while peak intensity oscillate with amplitude at about 3.6% of the background emission. Meanwhile, a quasi-period of about 155 s is identified in the Doppler velocity and peak intensity of Fe XXI, and AIA 131 A intensity. Conclusions. The oscillations at about 40 s are not damped significantly during the observation, it might be linked to the global kink modes of flaring loops. The periodicity at about 155 s is most likely a signature of recurring downflows after chromospheric evaporation along flaring loops. The magnetic field strengths of the flaring loops are estimated to be about 120-170 G using the MHD seismology diagnostics, which are consistent with the magnetic field modeling results using the flux rope insertion method.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, accepted by A&

Transport Properties in the "Strange Metal Phase" of High Tc Cuprates: Spin-Charge Gauge Theory Versus Experiments

The SU(2)xU(1) Chern-Simons spin-charge gauge approach developed earlier to describe the transport properties of the cuprate superconductors in the ``pseudogap'' regime, in particular, the metal-insulator crossover of the in-plane resistivity, is generalized to the ``strange metal'' phase at higher temperature/doping. The short-range antiferromagnetic order and the gauge field fluctuations, which were the key ingredients in the theory for the pseudogap phase, also play an important role in the present case. The main difference between these two phases is caused by the existence of an underlying statistical $\pi$-flux lattice for charge carriers in the former case, whereas the background flux is absent in the latter case. The Fermi surface then changes from small ``arcs'' in the pseudogap to a rather large closed line in the strange metal phase. As a consequence the celebrated linear in T dependence of the in-plane and out-of-plane resistivity is shown explicitly to recover. The doping concentration and temperature dependence of theoretically calculated in-plane and out-of-plane resistivity, spin-relaxation rate and AC conductivity are compared with experimental data, showing good agreement.Comment: 14 pages, 5 .eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B, revised version submitted on 24 Oc