Data fusion based on fuzzy measures

Choquet integral based on fuzzy measure is a very popular data fusion approach. A major problem in applying the Choquet integral is how to determine a large number of fuzzy measures as the number of attributes increases. The λ-fuzzy measure proposed by Sugeno is a powerful method to resolve this problem. However, the modeling ability of the λ-fuzzy measure is too limited to satisfy actual requirements. In this paper, an extended λ-fuzzy measure is proposed using Shapley value index, and the limitation of the λ-fuzzy measure is significantly overcome under little additional computational loads. The extended fuzzy measure has stronger modeling power than the λ-fuzzy measure, straightforwardly representing interaction among attributes. We apply the extended fuzzy measure to an artificial data set and a real dataset in an iron-steel plant. The results verify the usefulness of the extended fuzzy measure compared with other main existing methods.     

Executive inhibition in mental arithmetic

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured to investigate the executive inhibitory processes in mental arithmetic. Subjects had to compute arithmetic expressions visually presented in four chunks. ERP analyses were conducted for the second chunk comparing the “NoCalculate” to the “Calculate” conditions. In the Calculate condition subjects could compute intermediate results. In the NoCalculate condition subjects had to withhold the computation. The results showed a negative effect (N380) over frontocentral regions at about 380 ms, probably reflecting the calculation inhibition demand in the NoCalculate condition. In addition, the dN380 (NoCalculate-Calculate difference) was more pronounced in the right hemisphere, which is consistent with the findings of previous fMRI and PET studies that the right prefrontal cortex is closely associated with response inhibition. The results support the generalization of the frontocentral N2 as a neurobehavioral tool for investigating inhibitory executive control.     

Local orthogonal transform for a class of acoustic waveguides

There are some curved interfaces in acoustic waveguides. To compute wave propagation along the waveguides with some marching methods, flattening of the internal interfaces is needed. In this paper, a local orthogonal coordinate transform and an equation transform are constructed to solve the two-dimensional Helmholtz equation for the waveguides bounded by a flat top, a flat bottom and two curved internal interfaces with three layered media. The curved internal interfaces are flattened by the local orthogonal coordinate transform, and the corresponding transformed Helmholtz equation can be solved by some marching methods. This treatment can be extended in multilayered medium waveguides. The one-way reformulation based on the Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) map is then used to reduce the boundary value problem to an initial value problem. Numerical implementation of the resulting operator Riccati equation uses a large range step method to discretize the range variable and a truncated local eigenfunction expansion to approximate the operators. This method is particularly useful for solving long range wave propagation problems in slowly varying waveguides with multilayered medium structure.     

Strengthening of the boreal winter Hadley circulation and its connection with ENSO

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is carried out for the year-to-year variability of the boreal winter (DJF) mass stream function of the mean meridional circulation (MMC) during the period 1948—2005. The results demonstrate that it is dominated by the equatorially asymmetric and symmetric modes. Further analysis shows that the former mode is linked with the boreal winter Hadley cell mainly on the decadal time-scale, and the latter on the interannual time-scale. The asymmetric mode index (AMI) with a clear upward trend contributes to the decadal strengthening of the boreal Hadley circulation, and is closely correlated with the tropical SST warming, especially in the region of Indo-west Pacific warm pool (INWP). Furthermore, the AMI also contributes to the abrupt change of the correlation coefficient between the boreal Hadley circulation and ENSO after 1976. The symmetric mode index (SMI) with robust and stable linkage with ENSO shows a significant interannual variability, suggesting that the variability of the Hadley circulation is mainly associated with ENSO on the interannual time-scale.     

Magnetic resonance imaging based volumetry:a primary approach to unravelling the brain

Magnetic resonance(MR)imaging based volumetry is recognized as an important technique for studying the brain.In this review,two principle volumetric methods using high resolution MR images were introduced,namely the Cavalieri method and the voxel based morphometry(VBM).The Cavalieri method represents a manual technique that allows the volume of brain structures to be estimated efficiently with no systematic error or sampling bias,whereby the VBM represents an automated image analysis which involves the use of statistical parametric mapping of the MR imaging data.Both methods have been refined and applied extensively in recent neuro- science research.The present paper aims to describe the development of methodologies and also to update the knowledge of their applica- tions in studying the normal and diseased brain.     

Optical data storage in nonphotosensitive media by femtosecond laser pulses

Ultrashort lasers have become powerful tools by inducing extremely nonlinear effects in a wide variety of materials. Femtosecond laser data storage in non-photosensitive media is promising for its high density and fast retrieval.We reviewed the progress of three types of femtosecond laser storage in transparent materials:three-dimensional bit-oriented storage by micro-voids,holographic data storage by two beam interference and storage by computer-generated holograms.     

Data fusion based on fuzzy measures

Choquet integral based on fuzzy measure is a very popular data fusion approach.A major problem in applying the Cho- quet integral is how to determine a large number of fuzzy measures as the number of attributes increases.Theλ-fuzzy measure proposed by Sngeno is a powerful method to resolve this problem.However,the modeling ability of theλ-fuzzy measure is too limited to satisfy actual requirements.In this paper,an extendedλ-fuzzy measure is proposed using Shapley value index,and the limitation of theλ-fuzzy measure is significantly overcome under little additional computational loads.The extended fuzzy measure has stronger modeling power than theλ- fuzzy measure,straightforwardly representing interaction among attributes.We apply the extended fuzzy measure to an artificial data set and a real dataset in an iron-steel plant.The results verify the usefulness of the extended fuzzy measure compared with other main existing methods.     

Daily variation of carbon flux in soils of Populus euphratica forests in the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River

In order to lucubrate the daily variation of respiration in soils of Populus euphratica forests and analyze its relationship with environmental factors in the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River, the LI-8100 instrument of soil CO2 flux system was used to measure the parameters of soil carbon flux and air temperature 10 cm above ground surface along the profiles of Usyman, Archy River, Yengisu and Karday, and the relationships between the soil carbon flux and the soil moisture content were analyzed. The nonlinear regression analysis was carried out with the software SPSS13.0. We observed that: (1) soil respiration began to be restrained when the air temperature was up to 30℃10 cm above the ground surface; (2) the rates of soil respiration under the forests of Populus euphratica were significantly different at various moisture contents, the soil carbon flux was high along the Usyman profile, which has a high soil moisture content, and it was low along the profiles of Archy River, Yengisu and Karday, which has a low soil moisture content; (3) the exponential model can be used to explain the relationship between soil respiration and air temperature 10 cm above the ground surface. The average Q10 values along the profiles of Usyman, Archy River, Yengisu and Karday are 0. 61, 0.16, 0. 22 and 0. 35 respectively, much lower than the average of the world; (4) there is a positive correlation between the soil carbon flux and the soil moisture content.     

Performance of information system implementation based on coupling-cohesion among subunits

The intermediate information system benefit and the coupling-cohesion of subunits are presented to study the performance of information system implementation. Based on the organizational information processing theory and the organizational behaviour theory, a theoretical model is established from the perspective of coupling-cohesion of subunits. The reliability and validity of the model are checked up with the structural equation models and the data collected with questionnaires. The results of the study give some theoretical and practical guidance.